The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned Paris’ ambassador to the country over cartoons in a French magazine that insulted both the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the nation’s religious practices. Though the ministry did not name the magazine, it was apparently referring to Charlie Hebdo, which is notorious for satirical attacks on Islam.
In a statement on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Ambassador Nicolas Roche had been summoned and that a “a strong protest” had been filed with the French government. He added that Tehran would not “accept any insult to Islamic as well as its national and religious values.”
France has no right to “justify insult to the sanctities of other nations and Islamic countries under the pretext of freedom of speech,” he said, and that Iran believes the French government shares responsibility for such “disgusting, sacrilegious and unjustified moves.”
Kanaani stated that Iran reserves the right to give “an appropriate response” while handing the French ambassador an official note of protest. Roche said he would convey Tehran’s position to Paris, the statement read.