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Tag: Berlin

  • Berlin, Tehran Confer on Islamic Centres Ban

    Berlin, Tehran Confer on Islamic Centres Ban

    Baerbock responded by stating that under German law, the Islamic centres could pursue their rights through legal mechanisms…reports Asian Lite News

    Iranian Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock have exchanged views on Germany’s closure of Islamic centres in the European country in a phone call.

    Bagheri Kani on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction with the German government’s decision, condemning it as a “completely political” move, including the shutdown of the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH), Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

    He described the action as part of a strategy to “spread Islamophobia and safeguard Israel’s interests”, and warned that Germany should accept the consequences of its actions.

    Baerbock responded by stating that under German law, the Islamic centres could pursue their rights through legal mechanisms. She highlighted the necessity of efforts in resolving the differences that had arisen, expressing hope that the obstacles to bilateral relations would be removed through dialogue and diplomatic channels.

    The two ministers also discussed the latest developments in West Asia, the talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, the removal of sanctions, and bilateral consular issues, according to the statement.

    On Wednesday, the German Interior Ministry said in a statement that it had banned the Hamburg-based IZH and its affiliated organisations throughout Germany, claiming the centre was “an Islamist extremist organisation pursuing anti-constitutional objectives”.

    The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned German Ambassador to Tehran Hans-udo Muzel and protested the country’s move, which it described as a “hostile action contrary to the fundamental principles of human rights.”

    ALSO READ: Harmony Urged in Iran’s Govt

  • Berlin synagogue attacked with Molotov cocktails

    Berlin synagogue attacked with Molotov cocktails

    The Israeli embassy in Berlin also condemned the incident, calling for German authorities to address antisemitic attacks with “unwavering severity.”…reports Asian Lite News

    A Berlin synagogue was attacked with Molotov cocktails early on Wednesday. The incident is now being investigated by German security agencies, CNN reported.

    The Berlin police said on ‘X’ that the incident took place at around 3:45 am local time at the synagogue on Brunnenstrabe Street in Berlin’s central district of Mitte.

    The police said that the flaming bottles smashed on the pavement before dying out, the police said.

    The Police have arrested a 30-year-old man who rode an e-scooter along the street and threw it away before running towards the synagogue. The man resisted arrest and shouted anti-Israel slogans as officers tried to apprehend him, the police added.

    As per the police, Germany’s state-level security agency, the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution, is investigating the incident.

    The incident was condemned by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who took to X, wrote: “Attacks against Jewish institutions, violent riots on our streets – this is inhumane, disgusting and cannot be tolerated.”

    “Antisemitism has no place in Germany. My thanks go to the security forces, especially in this situation,” he further wrote.

    The Israeli embassy in Berlin also condemned the incident, calling for German authorities to address antisemitic attacks with “unwavering severity.”

    The German government had previously warned that it would not tolerate any antisemitic behaviour following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

    Policing in Germany was stepped up after videos emerged of people holding Palestinian flags appearing to celebrate in German streets after the attack by Hamas on October 7, as per CNN.

    Other European countries France and the UK have also ramped up security measures in the wake of the massacre, amid fears of attacks against the Jewish community.

    London’s Metropolitan Police announced in a post on X its decision to increase policing patrols across the capital “in order to provide a visible presence and reassurance to our communities,” while in France, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said there will be a reinforcement of security “around places of worship and Jewish establishments”, CNN reported. (ANI)

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  • Gallery: ILA Berlin Air Show

    Gallery: ILA Berlin Air Show

    People watch the flying display of a Eurofighter Typhoon at the ILA Berlin Air Show in Schoenefeld, Germany, on June 22, 2022. With the participation of about 550 exhibitors from about 30 countries and regions, the ILA Berlin Air Show kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

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  • Exhibition on Netaji marks his 125th birth anniversary in Berlin

    Exhibition on Netaji marks his 125th birth anniversary in Berlin

    The Indian government has been celebrating January 23 as Parakram Diwas since 2021…reports Asian Lite News

    Indian Embassy in Berlin on Sunday celebrated Parakram Diwas by opening a special exhibition to honour Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary.

    The exhibition titled “Bose 125”, which includes rare, personal letters and memorabilia from Netaji, was inaugurated at the Embassy by Ambassador of India to Germany Harish Parvathaneni and Prof. Dr Anita Bose Pfaff, Netaji’s daughter.

    The Indian government has been celebrating January 23 as Parakram Diwas since 2021.

    On the occasion of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji, the government has included Parakram Diwas in the Republic Day celebrations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a hologram statue of Netaji at the India Gate to mark the occasion.

    External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar paid homage to Netaji on the occasion of Parakram Diwas through a tweet. He referred to Netaji’s indomitable spirit and devotion to the motherland as a source of constant inspiration to all Indians, including the youth.

    Dr Bose Pfaff, an Overseas Citizen of India, expressed deep appreciation for the government’s decision to commence Republic Day celebrations with Netaji’s birth anniversary and conveyed her greetings to people of India on this joyous occasion.

    The ambassador of India, in his remarks, stated that the country would be eternally indebted to Netaji for his role in the freedom struggle and the Independence of India.

    The ambassador recalled the immortal words of Netaji “India is God’s beloved land. He has come into being in many countries in human form but not so many times in any other country- that is why I say, India, our motherland, is God’s beloved land.”

    As we celebrate “Amrit Mahotsav” in Germany, the Ambassador announced the commitment of the Indian government to build a strong, confident, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat as envisioned by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

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  • Another Ryanair plane diverted to Berlin over potential threat

    Another Ryanair plane diverted to Berlin over potential threat

    The plane was met by a group of police vehicles with lights flashing as it parked in a spot away from the main terminal…reports Asian Lite News.

    In yet another flight diversion incident involving Ryanair, the Irish airline on Monday announced that a Poland-bound plane made an unscheduled landing in Berlin due to information received about a possible security threat on board.

    The flight from the Irish capital Dublin to Krakow in Poland was diverted to the German capital at around 8 p.m. on Sunday because that was the closest airport, dpa news agency quoted the airline as saying.

    The plane was met by a group of police vehicles with lights flashing as it parked in a spot away from the main terminal.

    The 160 passengers and their luggage were taken off the plane and examined with the help of sniffer dogs, in an operation that lasted until 4 a.m. on Monday.

    The passengers then continued on with their journey using a replacement aircraft.

    German federal police said on Monday morning they had determined there was no danger to the aircraft but have yet to release details on the purported threat, saying only that it was a telephone call that had raised alarm.

    German tabloids Bild and BZ said that there had been a bomb threat, but neither the police nor Ryanair confirmed those reports.

    Sunday’s incident in Berlin comes exactly after a week after Belarusian authorities dispatched a fighter jet to force another Ryanair flight to divert to Minsk, where a dissident journalist who was on board was then arrested along with his girlfriend.

    Roman Protasevich, a 26-year-old dissident journalist, and his partner were taken into custody after the landing on May 23, prompting a raft of measures by the EU, including restricted access to the bloc’s airspace for Belarusian carriers.

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