Germany bans Islamist group over support for Iran
In a statement issued by the German Interior Ministry, the terrorist group Islamic Centre Hamburg, also known as the "Blue Mosque" (IZH), has been banned for allegedly supporting Iran and propagating Iranian ideology in an "aggressive and militant" manner, through "alleged support" for the Lebanese group Hezbollah (a group that has been outlawed in Germany since 2020).
According to initial reports, the banning of the IZH was based on the suspicion that the organisation had an interest in attacking political targets, which led to it being considered an unconstitutional organisation.
In addition to the raid on the IZH, 53 buildings were searched in the enclaves of Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria, according to the statement. Properties that were associated with the Islamic Centre in November 2023, when 55 others were seized.
The dossier also details that four mosques located in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin have been closed and all assets belonging to IZH leaders confiscated.
The Iranian-affiliated Islamic Centre of Hamburg has created an extensive network in Germany and other European countries. According to internal intelligence, the centre influences the Shi'a community of various nationalities and controls mosques and cultural centres.
In speeches issued at the Centre, the German government warned against exporting Iran's Islamic revolution and considered it a main objective of the Iranian state. In addition, Iran has also established mosques in other European cities such as Copenhagen, Denmark, affiliated with the Islamic Centre of Hamburg.
The ministry claims that the organisation is not related to the "peaceful practice of the Shia religion", but makes a clear distinction between the Muslims against whom we act harshly and the many Muslims who belong to our country and live according to their faith. Following the statement, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasised that Muslims are free to practice their Shia faith.
"This Islamist ideology is opposed to human dignity, to women's rights, to an independent judiciary and to our democratic government. It is very important to make a clear distinction here: we are not acting against a religion," she said.
“Instead of a society based on a basic liberal democratic order, protected by the Basic Law, the Islamic Center of Hamburg and its associates advocate the establishment of a dictatorial theocracy. The Center also spreads aggressive anti-Semitism among its followers. In addition, it also supports the terrorist organization Hezbollah, whose activity is banned in Germany," the Interior Ministry stressed.
According to Faeser, the Centre is forbidden to "act in an extremely conspiratorial manner" because it "wants to give the outside world the impression that it is a pure and tolerant religious organisation, without agenda or political party". According to German MPs such as Christoph de Vries, "it is common knowledge that within the IZH there are members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and agents of the regime".