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The Federal Foreign Office on the Iranian authorities’ action against the German Language Institute in Tehran
A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today (20 August 2024) on the Iranian authorities’ action against the German Language Institute in Tehran (Deutsches Sprachinstitut Teheran, DSIT):
We condemn the Iranian security authorities’ action against the German Language Institute in Tehran. There can be no justification for this. Language exchange forms the foundation of mutual understanding. The Institute is a well-known and well-loved place of encounter where people go to great lengths to promote language learning amid challenging conditions. Its staff are highly dedicated to their work, which aims among other things to strengthen the ties between the people of Iran and Germany.
The Iranian Ambassador will be summoned to the Federal Foreign Office. We call on the new Iranian Government to permit the Institute to resume teaching immediately.
Background information:
The German Embassy in Tehran founded the German Language Institute (DSIT) in 1995. It offers language courses from level A1 to C2, leading to certifications that are recognised in Germany. It is self-financed (through fees for language courses and examinations) and is not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut. It currently employs 85 teachers, none of whom are seconded from Germany.