Germany bans Iranian opposition protest in Berlin

DPA: Police in the German capital on Thursday banned a demonstration called by an Iranian opposition group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Officials said the group – which seeks the ouster of the Teheran government – planned to use the rally to build support for the Iranian People’s Mujahedin-e Khalq which has been declared a terrorist organisation by the European Union. DPA

BERLIN – Police in the German capital on Thursday banned a demonstration called by an Iranian opposition group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran.

Officials said the group – which seeks the ouster of the Teheran government – planned to use the rally to build support for the Iranian People’s Mujahedin-e Khalq which has been declared a terrorist organisation by the European Union.

Germany’s domestic security agency, the Verfassungsschutz, says the People’s Mujahedin-e is merely a wing of the National Council of Resistance (NCR).

Organisers from the NCR accused the German government of a “dirty deal” with France which banned a similar rally in Paris earlier this month.

The NCR said in a statement that 40,000 people had planned to attend the Berlin rally which was to have taken place at the historic Brandenburg Gate.