Berlin insists that the “peaceful practice of the Shiite religion” was not the basis for its actions against the Islamic Center Hamburg. A Muslim religious organization that Germany says spreads “extremism” and supports Iran and Hezbollah has been banned.
The Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH) and its national affiliates were banned on Wednesday by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, describing their mission as “anti-constitutional.” In a statement, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated, “Today, we banned [IZH], which promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany.”
“Human dignity, women’s rights, an independent judiciary, and our democratic government are all opposed by this Islamist ideology.” She asserted that the group and its “sub-organisations” “spread aggressive antisemitism” and support Hezbollah.
Germany prohibited the furnished Lebanese gathering in 2020, assigning it as a “fear based oppressor” association. Her service likewise affirmed the gathering acts “as the immediate delegate of Iran’s ‘Preeminent Chief’,” and works in light of a legitimate concern for laying out an Islamic upset in Germany “beyond the free and majority rule established framework”.
After German authorities raided 55 properties associated with the group in November, they imposed the ban. During the raid, the police seized material that “undoubtedly” demonstrated that the group was operating in a “highly conspiratorial manner” and was attempting to conceal its political goals. However, the ministry did not provide a description of the gathered evidence. German police leave the structure in the wake of striking an Islamic focus at Neukoelln locale, following the Islamic Center Hamburg being under doubt of acting against a sacred request and supporting the assailant bunch Hezbollah in Berlin, Germany, November 16, 2023.
Fabricio Bensch/Reuters German police strike an Islamic focus in Berlin’s Neukolln locale, as a feature of an examination concerning the Islamic Center Hamburg, November 16, 2023 [Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters] The ban will result in the closure of four Shia Muslim mosques in Germany, as well as the confiscation of IZH’s assets.
Faeser focused on that the gathering was not designated on strict grounds and that Shia Muslims are allowed to rehearse their confidence. She stated, “We are drawing a clear distinction between the many Muslims who belong to our country and live according to their faith and the Islamist extremists that we are cracking down on.”
“The peaceful practice of the Shiite [Shia] religion is exempt from this ban.” The IZH, which runs a mosque in Hamburg, has been watched by Germany’s internal intelligence agency for a long time. The gathering expressed in front of last year’s strikes that it “denounces each type of viciousness and fanaticism and experiences generally upheld harmony, resilience and interreligious exchange”.
