The head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement on Monday condemned Germany’s ban on his group as bowing to US pressure and insisted it was not active in the country.
In a televised address, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah dismissed the fresh German decision as an outright implementation of the US administration’s dictates.
He said that Germany’s move also came in response to the US pressure to halt the party’s movement worldwide.
Last week, Germany banned activity by Lebanon's Hezbollah on its soil and designated it as a terrorist organization.
German police conducted raids in Germany last Thursday to detain suspected members of the group. Security officials believe up to 1,050 people in Germany are part of Hezbollah's military wing.
“Germany has failed to submit any proof of terrorist acts allegedly attributed to Hezbollah,” Nasrallah said, further denouncing Germany’s blacklisting of Hezbollah, and police raids on affiliated mosques and centers.
He made clear that his party had decided to avoid establishing any sort of organized existence abroad in a bid to spare supporters and followers in foreign countries any trouble or embarrassing situations.
Also, Nasrallah called on the Lebanese government to protect the Lebanese expatriates in Germany due to the fact that Hezbollah’s intervention in this issue would leave a different impression.
At the local level, Nasrallah praised the invitation of President Michel Aoun to discuss the government’s new economic rescue plan.
He said Hezbollah did not categorically reject the idea of having Lebanon ask the IMF for financial support.
“Hezbollah has only warned against surrendering to the IMF’s will,” he explained.
Furthermore, Nasrallah reiterated calls on Lebanese banks to release depositors’ funds and to avoid blindly yielding to US pressures. He also denied any Hezbollah involvement in the currency exchange business in Lebanon.
“We don't want to destroy, control, topple, or take revenge on the banking sector and there are attempts to distort Hezbollah’s stance on banks,” he said.
Addressing banks, the Hezbollah chief said: "Don't be Americans more than Americans themselves,” calling on them to help the Lebanese state.
Nasrallah also denied rumors about tense relations with the Amal Movement.
“Some parties inside and outside the country want to drive a wedge between Amal and Hezbollah and I tell them that this will not happen,” he said.
