Senior cleric criticise EU for blacklisting Hezbollah’s armed wing

Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, a senior Iranian religious leader, blasted the European Union for listing the military wing of the Lebanese Hezbollah Movement as a terrorist organization, describing the move as unjustifiable. Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi made the remarks, addressing a group of worshippers in Qom. He said the European Union in an unjustifiable move has placed Lebanese Hezbollah on its list of terrorist groups. The Hezbolah movement has been labeled as a terrorist group just because of defending its motherland, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said. Why aren't those terrorist groups that commit inhuman crimes in Syria put in the list and instead receive financial and military aids but Hezbollah should be blacklisted, he questioned. EU governments on Monday agreed to list the armed wing of Hezbollah as a terrorist group but the EU ignored pressure from the US and Israel to ban the Lebanese organization outright, allowing contacts with its political representatives. The decision by EU foreign ministers came after months of wrangling among member states, who needed to agree the ban unanimously. But there was condemnation from Beirut, where the government had described Hezbollah as "an essential component of the Lebanese society". Leading politicians warned the move would play into the hands of Israel. The Lebanese al-Manar TV channel, reported, "Israel has imposed its will on Europe."