Iran condemns Taliban delegate’s refusal to stand for Iranian national anthem

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran on Friday expressed deep displeasure over a Taliban delegate’s refusal to stand during the Iranian national anthem at an event in Tehran, state media reported, following a similar incident in Pakistan earlier in the week.

The incident involving the Taliban delegate to the Islamic Unity Conference in the Iranian capital on Thursday follows an incident in Pakistan on Wednesday in which a Taliban diplomat did not stand up during the Pakistani anthem. Both host countries considered the gestures disrespectful, and in both cases, Taliban officials said it was customary in their countries to remain seated while music was playing.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the head of the Afghan embassy in Tehran on Friday to condemn the act by Taliban envoy Azizorahman Mansour, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported. The ministry called the move “an unconventional and unacceptable act by the Afghan envoy.”

The Islamic Unity Conference is an annual event held in Iran to promote unity and solidarity among different Islamic sects, particularly between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

The Taghrib news agency, which covers news from the Islamic world, published a video of Mansour apologizing for his behavior at the conference but saying it was in line with the norms in force in Afghanistan.

“In our country, when we sing songs, we sit down. I followed this norm,” Mansour said. “We apologize to the people who were upset.”

According to the head of the Afghan embassy, ​​quoted by IRNA news agency, Mansour’s action was a personal act and did not reflect the views of the Taliban government. After Wednesday’s incident in Pakistan, the Taliban issued a statement saying the diplomat did not stand up because the music was part of the anthem.

Iran and Afghanistan share a 960-kilometer-long border, which has become a lifeline for many Afghans who have flocked to the neighboring country in search of work. Iranian officials estimate that about six million Afghans are in Iran. Activists believe the number is much higher.

Iran does not officially recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan and has called for the formation of an inclusive Afghan government involving all ethnic and religious groups. However, Iran maintains political and economic ties with Kabul and has allowed the Taliban to run the Afghan embassy in Tehran.