Germany has officially banned the Islamic Centre of Hamburg (IZH) along with five associated organizations due to allegations of supporting Iran’s theocracy and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
The German government accuses the IZH of promoting extremist ideologies that contradict the country’s constitutional values.
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The German government banned the Islamic Centre of Hamburg (IZH) and five related groups on July 24, 2024. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced the decision citing the IZH’s activities as a threat to Germany’s democratic principles.
The IZH is accused of promoting an Islamist-extremist and totalitarian ideology. It allegedly acts as an outpost for Iran’s leadership, disseminating the ideology of the Islamic Revolution.
The organization is believed to support Hezbollah, a group that Germany designated as a terrorist organization in 2020.
The IZH is also accused of spreading antisemitic views which are inconsistent with Germany’s constitutional values.
On the morning of July 24, German police raided 53 properties linked to the IZH including a mosque in Hamburg known as the Imam Ali Mosque.
In November 2023 raids had been conducted where materials were seized allegedly confirming the organization’s extremist activities.
While the specific evidence was not detailed, authorities claimed it demonstrated that the IZH was operating in a highly conspiratorial manner and trying to conceal its political aims.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser addressed that the ban is based on activities that threaten Germany’s constitutional order and not on religious grounds.
The Interior Ministry clarified that the actions are not against the peaceful practice of the Shiite religion, addressing a distinction between Islamist extremists and Muslims practicing their faith peacefully.
As a consequence of the ban, four Shiite mosques in Germany will be closed. The assets of the IZH and its sub-organizations are set to be confiscated by the authorities.
Despite the closures the German government reiterated that Shiite Muslims could continue practicing their faith without interference.
Founded in 1962, the IZH has been under scrutiny by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency for years. The organization has previously denied any links to extremism, advocating for peace, tolerance and interreligious dialogue.
The IZH is known for operating the Imam Ali Mosque or the Blue Mosque in Hamburg and it is one of Germany’s oldest mosques.
It has been a cultural and religious landmark in Hamburg. The center is accused of being an extension of the Iranian regime in Germany, spreading Iranian revolutionary ideas and having an influence over various mosques and associations within the country.
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Germany’s Interior Ministry has accused the IZH of supporting Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group backed by Iran.
Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by Germany and many other Western nations. The IZH is alleged to promote an Islamist-extremist and totalitarian ideology.
According to German authorities this ideology includes aggressive antisemitism which is contrary to German constitutional values.
The center is believed to act as a representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader working to propagate the Islamic Revolution’s ideologies in Germany.
German intelligence services have monitored the IZH for decades citing suspicions of extremist activities. In November, police conducted extensive raids, uncovering evidence that substantiated the IZH’s connections to Hezbollah and its extremist activities.
This evidence played a crucial role in the decision to ban the organization. The Interior Ministry declared that the gathered material confirmed the serious suspicions against the IZH to a degree that warranted an immediate ban.
Nancy Faeser, German Interior Minister addressed that the ban targets extremist activities, not the religion of Islam itself.
She stressed the importance of differentiating between the two to avoid misconceptions about the intent of the ban.
The IZH has consistently denied the allegations stating that it condemns all forms of violence and extremism. It has positioned itself as an advocate for peace, tolerance and interreligious dialogue.
Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the German ambassador in Tehran, expressing its displeasure over the ban. The Iranian state news agency IRNA reported on this response indicating potential tensions between Germany and Iran.
Hezbollah, supported by Iran has been involved in numerous regional conflicts and is known for its anti-Israel stance.
The ban is beyond the IZH to its affiliated sub-organizations across Germany including those in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin.
In total, authorities searched 53 properties linked to the IZH and its affiliates leading to the closure of four Shiite mosques associated with the organization.
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