Germany has taken action against the Islamic Centre Hamburg due to concerns over radical Islamist activities

Germany has taken action against the Islamic Centre Hamburg due to concerns over the promotion of radical Islamist goals, including anti-Semitism and extremist ideology.

On Wednesday, Germany’s interior ministry made the decision to ban the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) and its subsidiary organizations due to their pursuit of radical Islamist goals. The decision comes after thorough investigations and searches carried out by authorities in eight German states.

On Wednesday morning, a court order led to the search of 53 premises connected to the IZH. These locations encompass the IZH headquarters in Hamburg, which is home to one of Germany’s oldest mosques renowned for its unique turquoise exterior, along with its associated groups in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin.

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

The ban comes as a result of the evidence collected during a previous search of 55 properties in November. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced the prohibition of the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg due to its promotion of an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany. This ideology is in direct conflict with principles of human dignity, women’s rights, an independent judiciary, and our democratic government.

Faeser made it clear that the ban is focused on curbing extremist activities and does not hinder the peaceful observance of the Shiite religion. The ministry portrayed the IZH as a direct representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader, with intentions to incite an Islamic revolution in Germany to establish theocratic rule. In addition, there have been allegations of the IZH promoting anti-Semitism and providing support to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which is also prohibited in Germany.

This strong and resolute action demonstrates Germany’s dedication to countering extremist ideologies and upholding the integrity of its democratic principles.