TEHRAN – Iran has said it holds the French government responsible for an “anti-cultural and anti-human move” by a notorious French weekly to publish insulting caricatures of the country’s top politico-religious authority.
In a statement on Thursday, the foreign ministry said it would review France’s cultural activities in Iran, and that it was “ending the activities of the French Institute for Research in Iran as a first step.”
The French government bears “undeniable responsibility” to deal with violations of the sanctity of freedom, breach of human rights, insults against religious values and beliefs and threats to the national sovereignty of other countries by legal and natural persons subject to the rule of the European country’s government, it said.
The Institut Français de Recherche, which is part of the cultural wing of the French embassy, used to study ancient Persian antiquities.
The ministry condemned “in the strongest terms” the infamous French magazine’s move “to trample on recognized moral norms, savagely violate religious sanctities, disrespect the sanctum of the politico-religious authority, and insult the Iranians’ state symbols and national values.”
The French publication’s move, the ministry said, is another sign of the Zionism’s role in a media campaign to promote Islamophobia, incite hatred and sow discord among peoples and countries.
It said the French publication has for many years misused the noble concept of “freedom of speech” as a cover for its anti-cultural acts and desecration of humans as well as sublime moral and religious values.
Over the past years, the French magazine has repeatedly provoked Muslim anger by publishing insulting cartoons purportedly of Prophet Muhammad (Peace upon Him).
Iran, the ministry said, slams the inaction of the relevant authorities in France in dealing with the French publications’ measures against Islam and the spread of racist hatred and reiterates the direct responsibility of the government in Paris to hold accountable the perpetrators of such moves.
It pledged to seriously pursue the Iranian nation’s demand for the French government to hold accountable the perpetrators and prevent their repetition, saying Tehran would take appropriate measures in this regard.
Iran’s foreign ministry on Wednesday summoned the French Ambassador in Tehran Nicolas Roche to protest the insulting act by the French magazine.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran brooks by no means any insults to its sanctities, and Islamic, religious,

and national values,” ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani told the French envoy.
“France has no right to justify insults to other countries’ and Muslim nations’ sanctities under the pretext of freedom of expression,” he said, voicing Iran’s “strong protest” to the French government.
The spokesman stressed that the French government bears the responsibility for this “hateful, insulting and unjustified” act, adding Tehran reserves the right to give a “proportionate response”.
The Islamic Republic of Iran expects the French government to provide explanations and take action in condemning the publication’s “unacceptable behavior,” he said.
Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian also strongly condemned the “insulting” act, warning of a “decisive” response.
“The insulting and indecent move by a French publication in publishing cartoons against the religious and political authority will not go without an effective and decisive response,” the minister tweeted.
“We will not allow the French government to go beyond its bounds. They have definitely chosen the wrong path,” he added.