Germany summoned Iran’s ambassador after a Hamburg court sentenced two men over preparations to attack Jewish community leaders. Iran denied involvement and summoned Germany’s envoy in response on October 19. The reciprocal diplomatic protests followed the earlier court decision; they did not include an announced break in relations or the expulsion of either ambassador.
Germany summoned Iran’s ambassador, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, on October 19 after a Hamburg court convicted two men over preparations to attack Jewish leaders. The German Foreign Ministry said attacks on Jewish life and those defending it were unacceptable. The targets were Josef Schuster, head of Germany’s Central Council of Jews, and Volker Beck, head of the German-Israeli Society.[1], [2]
Iran subsequently summoned German ambassador Axel Dittmann to protest Berlin’s accusations. Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied any connection to the plot and described the allegations as political. Its statement was carried by the official IRNA news agency and quoted by Al Jazeera. Iran’s embassy in Berlin had also rejected the charges when they were brought, saying they reflected accusations made at the request of Iran’s enemies.[1]
The court sentenced a Danish defendant to eight and a half years and an Afghan defendant to four and a half years the previous Thursday. It found that preparations had been carried out on Iran’s behalf, a finding Iran rejects. The two men had been arrested in Denmark last year and extradited to Germany. Monday’s reciprocal summons followed that judicial process. Al Jazeera’s account contained no announcement of an ambassador’s expulsion or a break in diplomatic relations.[1]
