Germany bans Muslim association for pursuing ‘radical Islamist goals’

Germany’s interior ministry said on Wednesday that it has banned the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) association and its subsidiary organisations, claiming that it pursues radical Islamist goals, Reuters has reported. The ministry pointed out that, acting on a court order, 53 of the organisation’s premises had been searched by the authorities in eight German states early on Wednesday.

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 Shia 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.

Evidence from an earlier search of 55 properties conducted in November provided the basis for Wednesday’s ban of the IZH.

“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.” Faeser added that she wanted to make clear that “this ban absolutely does not apply to the peaceful practice of the Shia religion.”

According to the ministry, 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. It claimed that the IZH promotes anti-Semitism and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which is also banned.

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