Iran summoned Afghanistan’s acting embassy head in Tehran on Friday following an incident where an Afghan official did not stand for the Iranian national anthem. This event occurred during a conference on Islamic unity in Tehran, just days after a similar situation in Pakistan.
The Afghan delegate explained his action by stating that public music is prohibited under Taliban rule, leading to his seated posture during the anthem.
In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing “strong protest” over what it termed an “unconventional and unacceptable action,” labelling it disrespectful of Iran’s national symbols.
The ministry condemned the behaviour as contrary to diplomatic norms. It emphasized that respecting host countries’ national symbols, including anthems, is a widely acknowledged international practice.
This issue mirrored an event earlier in the week in Pakistan, where Afghan officials remained seated during the anthem because of the inclusion of music, which they claimed contradicted their national restrictions on music.
Pakistan had also expressed its displeasure formally by summoning Afghanistan’s charge d’affaires to address the “disrespect for the national anthem” during an event in Peshawar.
In defence, a spokesman from Afghanistan’s consulate clarified that the officials’ actions were not intended as disrespect but were in adherence to their policy against music.
Read: Outrage as Afghan Consul General Remains Seated During Pakistan’s National Anthem
On Friday, the Afghan official in Tehran posted a video apologizing for the incident, reaffirming that no disrespect was intended and that remaining seated during anthems aligns with their customs.
Despite sharing a long border with Afghanistan, Iran has yet to officially recognize the Taliban government, which seized power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
