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Hypocrisy, cordiality or noble duty? The expressions of condolence from EU officials to the murderous regime in Iran are causing a lot of anger in Europe.
Munich/Brussels – What Charles Michel has to tweet is, to put it politely, met with endless interest in the digital world. If things are going well for him, a few thousand users see his texts and pictures about which politician he just met and where. Things have changed since Monday: With one of his most boring messages at first glance, the EU Council President shot through the roof digitally, millions watched, tens of thousands commented. The Belgian expressed his condolences to Iran with a few standard phrases. And it sparked a huge debate: Is it allowed to do that?
The EU expressed its “deep condolences,” “our thoughts are with the families,” said Michel (or rather: one of his employees). An EU commissioner had previously offered help in finding missing people. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also expressed his condolences to “the families of all the victims” and “Iranian citizens.” All of this always in the name of the European Union as a whole, which is actually anything but friendly with Iran. Just last week it expanded sanctions against the country – among other things because of serious human rights violations.
Death of Raisi: Political echo of EU condolences for Iran
The political response to the EU condolences in Germany is therefore devastating. There is criticism of Michel from across several parties. “Is it still okay?” complains the North German CDU minister Karin Prien, the EU’s solidarity “belongs to the victims of this potentate”. Her party colleague Dennis Radtke from the European Parliament tweeted to Michel drastic photos of killed Iranian regime opponents, hung on cranes. The Green Volker Beck announces that he is ashamed of Michel: “What a lack of attitude!” What is also noticeable: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) did not let her accounts spread a single peep of condolence: icy silence.
Thousands of Iranians follow the president’s coffin
After the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in Iran funeral ceremonies According to state media, the first event was tens of thousands of Iranians in the city of Tabriz. The crowd followed a truck carrying the coffins of the nine victims were laid out. Raisi is to be buried on Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad. In addition to Raisi, Foreign Minister also died on Sunday Hossein Amir Abdollahian when a helicopter crashes. Raisi’s deputy Mohammed Mochber is interim president, and the previous chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri is interim foreign minister.
At the June 28th should a new president chosen become. The group consisting of 88 Shiite clergy also resigned yesterday expert advice together. The chairs of the injured members Raisi and Mohammad Ali-Haschem remained free. The arch-conservative preacher Mohammed-Ali Kermani (93) was new chairman of the committee. He replaces the 97-year-old Ahmad Jannati. In the event of death, the expert council decides on the new person religious leaders. That has been Ali Khamenei (85) since 1989. At that time, Khamenei became the successor to revolutionary leader Khomeini, who had until then ruling Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
In fact, states deal with them very differently Condolences to Tehran. The allies’ sympathy sounds very warm, more heartfelt than the much-criticized Michel statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin praises his Iranian colleague Raisi as a “true friend,” saying he is “rightly respected.” Turkish head of state Erdogan said he was “praying for the grace of God for my dear colleague and brother”. The Chinese people have “lost a good friend,” is broadcast from Beijing. Terrorist organizations like Hamas share “the sadness and pain of the Iranian people.” What is also worth mentioning: The Pope also says that he prays and “entrusts the souls of the dead to the mercy of the Almighty.” And the UN Security Council stands for a minute’s silence.hnmuen
Condolences at the state level: Even Putin does it
All of this sounds strange – when you think of the killed, tortured and oppressed victims that Raisi, among others, was responsible for during his time as public prosecutor. Nevertheless, condolences at the state level after accidents, natural disasters or the death of government politicians are a kind of custom. Even Putin condoled the Germans via telegram in July 2021 after the floods (“deepest condolences”). It does not automatically mean honoring a regime or expressing sympathy. Experts advise questioning the standard phrases. A better example than Michel: the USA. Your Secretary of State Antony Blinken combined his “official condolences” (that sounds more distant) with “our support for the Iranian people and their fight for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Raisi’s regime has murdered thousands. I won’t mourn him.
“The wording counts,” says Benedikt Franke, CEO of the Munich Security Conference and an expert on international protocol. “Simply expressing sympathy is not enough,” it depends on the nuances. It is also clear diplomatic standard that one sends condolences to another country if a democratically elected representative dies. Franke reminds us that such statements can also help to get the conversation going again. With regard to Iran, he says, we have to keep channels open to all sides. “Therefore, a letter to the government in Tehran should not always automatically be scandalized.” Franke says that the question of whether and which representatives will be sent to a funeral service is certainly a little more difficult, says Franke.
President of Iran dies in helicopter crash
Another point would also be tricky: Should the West have helped in the search for the crashed helicopter? It has now become known that Iran has made a request to this effect to its technologically superior arch-enemy, the USA. As far as is known, the helicopter was found without US help.
By the way, Berlin is holding back with greetings to Tehran. “Condolences,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz briefly on Tuesday. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier probably learned his lesson in 2019. At that time he sent a “warm” congratulatory telegram to Tehran on the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. “Also in the name of my compatriots,” he wrote. However, the compatriots were not impressed. Steinmeier later backtracked in interviews, referred to “diplomatic practices” and followed up with sharp criticism of the human rights situation in Iran. (Christian Deutschländer)
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