AFP |
Dawn.com
September 20, 2024
Iran summoned the acting head of Afghanistanās embassy on Friday after saying a visiting Afghan official disrespected the countryās national anthem by not standing, days after a
similar incident in Pakistan.
Standing up during the national anthem is a widely practiced gesture of respect and patriotism in many countries. It is often seen as a way to honour the nation and its values.
Pakistan
condemned the āreprehensible disrespectā for the countryās national anthem by an Afghan diplomat, who decided to remain seated when the anthem was played at a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government event on Tuesday, sparking an uproar on social and mainstream media.
However, the Afghan consulate downplayed the
incident, attributing the envoyās decision to remain seated to the presence of āmusic in the anthemā.
Following the incident at a conference in Tehran on Islamic unity, the Afghan delegate apologised, but said he didnāt stand up because music in public was banned by the Taliban.
An Iranian foreign ministry statement said a āstrong protestā had been lodged after the Afghan officialās āunconventional and unacceptable actionā.
It accused Kabulās representative to the Islamic Unity Conference of ādisrespecting the national anthem of the Islamic Republicā.
The foreign ministry ācondemned this action, which went against diplomatic customā.
Afghanistanās representative remained seated when Iranās national anthem was played.
āApart from the obvious necessity of the guest respecting the symbols of the host country, paying respect to the national anthem of countries is internationally recognised behaviour,ā Iranās statement added.
On Friday the Afghan official in Tehran for the conference posted a video apology, saying he meant no disrespect but that sitting during anthems is their custom.
Iran shares a 900 kilometre border with Afghanistan, but has not officially recognised Talibanās government since it came to power in August 2021 after US forces withdrew.