The Federal Ministry of the Interior has banned the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH), labeled a propaganda hub for the Iranian regime by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The ban follows concerns of Islamism, anti-Semitism, and support for Hezbollah.
The 'Blue Mosque' linked to the IZH will be closed, and its assets seized. Despite this, representatives have the option to challenge the ban at the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig.
The move comes after a nationwide raid targeting radical Islamists, with the 'Blue Mosque' in Hamburg being highlighted as an outpost for the Iranian regime. The IZH sponsoring association's prohibition stems from suspicions of aiding the Hezbollah militia.
The search and seizure operations were carried out in eight federal states, confiscating cash, mobile phones, laptops, and a safe. The Hamburg State Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been monitoring the IZH since 1993, branding it as an 'instrument of Iranian state leadership' since 2017. The significant crackdown on November 16, 2023, involved extensive investigations and was lauded by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser as a decisive halt to the activities of these extremists.
