Germany bans Islamic Centre Hamburg over radical Islamist ties and extremism

Germany’s interior ministry banned the Islamic Centre Hamburg and its branches for pursuing radical Islamist goals and promoting extremism.

 Pro Palestinian protesters demonstrate during the UN Climate Change Conference, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Bonn, Germany, June 7, 2024.  (photo credit: REUTERS/WOLFGANG RATTAY)
Pro Palestinian protesters demonstrate during the UN Climate Change Conference, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Bonn, Germany, June 7, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/WOLFGANG RATTAY)

Germany's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday it has banned the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) association and its subsidiary organizations, saying it pursues radical Islamist goals.

The ministry said in a statement that 53 of the organization's premises had been searched by authorities in eight German states early on Wednesday, acting on a court order.

In addition to the Hamburg-based IZH, which includes one of the oldest mosques in Germany known for its turquoise exterior, its subgroups in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin were also banned.

As a result, four Shiite mosques will be closed, said the ministry.

The IZH was not available for comment by phone on Wednesday morning, and its website was not accessible to the public.

 People gather, on the day Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah gives a televised address, at a rally commemorating Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian who were killed along with other officials in a helicopter crash, in Lebanon May 24, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/EMILIE MADI)
People gather, on the day Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah gives a televised address, at a rally commemorating Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian who were killed along with other officials in a helicopter crash, in Lebanon May 24, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/EMILIE MADI)

Evidence from an earlier search of 55 properties conducted in November provided the basis for Wednesday's ban of the IZH, known in German as Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg, said the ministry.

'Islamist ideology is opposed to human dignity'

"Today, we banned the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg, which promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany," said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

"This Islamist ideology is opposed to human dignity, women's rights, an independent judiciary and our democratic government."

She said she wanted to make clear that "this ban absolutely does not apply to the peaceful practice of the Shiite religion."

The ministry said the IZH acted as a direct representative of Iran's Supreme Leader and sought to bring about an Islamic revolution in Germany that would create theocratic rule.


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In addition, IZH promotes antisemitism and the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, which is also banned, it said.