German-Iranian Society in Northern Germany e.V.

The German-Iranian Society in Northern Germany e.V. (German: Deutsch-Iranische Gesellschaft in Norddeutschland e.V., often abbreviated DIG) is a non-profit cultural association founded in 1977 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. It describes itself as an independent, non-political and non-ideological forum whose mission is to cultivate and deepen interest in Iranian culture, history and regional studies in Northern Germany, and to foster international understanding and interpersonal connections between Germany and Iran. Its stated area of activity covers Northern Germany, in particular the Free and Hanseatic Cities of Hamburg and Bremen as well as the federal states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony; the association also states that it may establish branch offices without separate legal personality in all larger cities. The society organizes a broad range of events, including lecture series, audio and visual presentations, and gatherings that allow members to engage more deeply with Iranian culture. It promotes personal and professional contacts between universities, scientific institutes and non-profit organizations pursuing similar goals, and it supports the publication of materials on Iranian culture, history and regional studies produced in cooperation with such institutions. Its public program includes the recurring "Vortragsreihe Iran" (Iran Lecture Series), Iranian festivals such as Nowruz and Mehregān, and cooperation with academic bodies. According to Persian-language reference material, it works closely with the University of Hamburg, the Asia-Africa Institute (AAI), and other German institutions, and has helped organize Iranian cultural festivals in Northern Germany. The association is registered as a non-profit (gemeinnützig) organization and emphasizes transparency and charitable purposes. Its official web presence is hosted at dighh.wordpress.com, and Persian-language sources also point to difv.org as an official website. The society is a membership-based eingetragener Verein (e.V.) rather than a commercial company; it does not sell products and is not listed on any stock exchange. Its activities are cultural, educational and networking-oriented, with a focus on Iranian studies and cultural exchange in the Hamburg and Northern Germany region.

The German-Iranian Society in Northern Germany e.V. was founded in 1977, according to its own official website, which describes the organization as active "Seit 1977 bis heute" (from 1977 to today). It was established as a non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) based in Hamburg, with a mission to promote interest in Iranian culture, history and regional studies in Northern Germany and to foster understanding between Germany and Iran. The society's self-description emphasizes that it is an independent, non-political and non-ideological forum. Over the decades, the association has built a program of lectures, audio-visual events and gatherings, and has developed cooperation with academic and cultural institutions. Persian-language reference material states that it works closely with the University of Hamburg, the Asia-Africa Institute (AAI), and other German institutions, and that it has helped organize Iranian cultural festivals in Northern Germany. Its recurring activities include the "Vortragsreihe Iran" lecture series, which in recent years has been advertised for semesters such as the summer semester 2025, and celebrations of Iranian festivals such as Nowruz and Mehregān. The society also states that it supports publications on Iranian culture, history and regional studies produced in cooperation with partner institutions. The association's stated geographic scope covers Northern Germany, especially Hamburg and Bremen and the federal states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, and it reserves the right to establish branch offices without separate legal personality in larger cities. Its official web presence has been hosted at dighh.wordpress.com, while Persian-language sources also list difv.org as an official website. The organization remains active as a cultural and educational association, with no commercial product line and no stock-market listing.

• 2025

  The society advertises its Iran Lecture Series for the summer semester 2025.

• 1977

  The German-Iranian Society in Northern Germany e.V. is founded.

Independent, non-political, non-ideological non-profit cultural association promoting Iranian culture and German-Iranian understanding in Northern Germany.

1. 1Deutsch-Iranische Gesellschaft in Norddeutschland e.V. (gegr. 1977) – Official websitedighh.wordpress.com
2. 2Über DIG – Deutsch-Iranische Gesellschaft in Norddeutschland e.V. (gegr. 1977)dighh.wordpress.com
3. 3German-Iranian Society in Northern Germany e.V. – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4انجمن دوستی ایران و آلمان – Wikipedia (Persian)fa.wikipedia.org