Germany Bans Islamic Center of Hamburg Amid Hezbollah Allegations
Germany has officially banned the "Islamic Center of Hamburg" (IZH), a Muslim religious association suspected of supporting Hezbollah and promoting anti-democratic ideologies. The Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, announced the ban on Wednesday, stating that the organization is an Islamist extremist group that poses a threat to Germany's constitutional order. The ban affects not only the Hamburg center but also its affiliated organizations across the country.
Extensive Raids and Confirmed Suspicions
In a coordinated effort involving numerous police officers, searches were conducted at 53 properties linked to the IZH throughout Germany, including the Blue Mosque in Hamburg. The raids were part of an ongoing investigation that has confirmed suspicions of the center’s involvement in promoting an authoritarian Islamic rule aligned with Iranian interests. Faeser emphasized that the ideology propagated by the IZH undermines human dignity, women's rights, and the independent judiciary, and is fundamentally opposed to democratic values.
Distinction Between Islamists and Peaceful Muslims
While the ban targets the IZH and its extremist activities, Minister Faeser made it clear that the action is not against Islam as a religion. She stressed the importance of distinguishing between Islamists and the peaceful Muslim community in Germany. The IZH has been under surveillance for decades, described by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a significant Iranian propaganda center in Europe. The center's director, Mohammad Mofatteh, is noted for his ties to the Iranian regime, further complicating the organization’s standing within German society.
- The Islamic Center of Hamburg has a long history of controversy, having been founded in 1962 and consistently monitored by German authorities. The center's activities have raised alarms due to its close ties to the Iranian government and its alleged role in spreading radical ideologies. In previous investigations, authorities seized various materials that pointed to the center's efforts to influence public opinion and promote anti-Semitic sentiments. The American Jewish Committee in Berlin welcomed the ban as a necessary step to combat hatred and extremism within Germany.
