Germany Bans Islamic Centre Hamburg Over Radical Islamist Activities

Germany’s interior ministry announced on Wednesday the banning of the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) and its subsidiary organisations, citing the group’s pursuit of radical Islamist goals. The decision follows extensive investigations and searches conducted by authorities across eight German states.

Early Wednesday morning, 53 premises linked to the IZH were searched under a court order. These included the IZH headquarters in Hamburg, home to one of Germany’s oldest mosques known for its distinctive turquoise exterior, as well as its affiliated groups in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin.

As part of the ban, four Shiite mosques associated with the IZH will be closed, the ministry confirmed. Efforts to reach the IZH for comment were unsuccessful, as phone calls went unanswered and the organisation’s website was inaccessible.

The ban follows evidence gathered from a previous search of 55 properties in November. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated, “Today, we banned the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg, which promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany. This Islamist ideology is opposed to human dignity, women’s rights, an independent judiciary, and our democratic government.”

Faeser emphasised that the ban targets extremist activities and does not impede the peaceful practice of the Shiite religion. The ministry described the IZH as a direct representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader, with aims to instigate an Islamic revolution in Germany to establish theocratic rule. Additionally, the IZH has been accused of promoting anti-Semitism and supporting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which is also banned in Germany.

This decisive action highlights Germany’s commitment to combating extremist ideologies and maintaining the integrity of its democratic values.

Melissa Enoch

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