The statement by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in reaction to a sacrilegious move by a notorious French magazine to trample on recognized moral norms, savagely violate religious sanctities, disrespect the sanctum of the politico-religious authority, and insult state symbols and national values of Iran The Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns in the strongest terms the sacrilegious move by a notorious French magazine to trample on recognized moral norms, savagely violate religious sanctities, disrespect the sanctum of the politico-religious authority, and insult the Iranians’ state symbols and national values. The Ministry considers the scheme as yet another sign of Zionism’s attempts at exercising influence on media in order to promote Islamophobia, spread hatred and create divisions among societies and among humans. The inhumane move by the disrespectful French publication — which, unfortunately, has brazenly used the lofty concept of “freedom of expression” for long as a pretext and a cover for anti-cultural acts and desecration of human beings, human dignity and sublime moral and religious values — is a continuation of similar activities, including the publishing of sacrilegious cartoons of the Great Prophet (Peace be upon Him) in previous years, which angered Muslims and prompted them to stage holy protests worldwide. The Islamic Republic of Iran deplores the lasting inaction of relevant French authorities in the face of the manifestations of Islamophobia and the racist hate-mongering in French publications, and reminds France’s government that it is directly responsible to hold to account the perpetrators and sponsors of such instances of spreading hatred. The Ministry also calls for a serious confrontation against antagonization of Islam and foolish Islamophobia as a symbol of institutionalized racism in this country. In this regard, we announce to the great and noble people of Iran and other world Muslims that, given the French authorities’ failure to adopt logical measures to stop and counter hatred toward and insults to Muslims’ religious sanctities and the moral and national values of the Iranians, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran has properly and on various levels conveyed to the French side the importance of seriously confronting the abuse of the deep value of freedom of expression, whose survival and solidification lies in respect for humans and humanity and for the religious and national sanctities of all people. The Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the undeniable responsibility of the French government vis-à-vis violations of the esteem for freedom and human rights, insults against religious values, infringement of religious beliefs, and threats against other countries’ national sovereignty by legal and natural persons under the rule of the French government. The Ministry does not tolerate silence on the vulgar French magazine’s anti-cultural and anti-human move and ends the activities of the French Institute of Research in Iran, as a first step, while reviewing cultural ties with France and the possibility of a continuation of France’s cultural activities in Iran. It is natural that the Iranian nation’s demand that the French government hold to account the perpetrators and promoters of the latest sacrilegious move and prevent a repetition of the move will be seriously pursued, and appropriate measures will be taken in that regard.