German Authorities Crack Down on Islamic Centre Hamburg

In a sweeping action on Wednesday, German authorities banned the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH), a Shiite organization accused of promoting extremist ideologies linked to Iran. The ban, which affects the IZH and five affiliated groups, was announced in the Federal Gazette and enforced with early-morning raids across Germany.

Police launched coordinated operations at the IZH's main site within the Imam Ali Mosque—commonly known as the Blue Mosque—in Hamburg, as well as at locations in eight other states. Officers cordoned off the mosque, situated in an affluent area near the city's Outer Alster Lake, and conducted searches at properties in Berlin's Tempelhof district and several other cities, including Bremen, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has labeled the IZH as extremist, citing its promotion of an Islamist-extremist ideology at odds with democratic values and human rights. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the IZH's activities, emphasizing that the ban targets extremist elements rather than the peaceful practice of Shiite Islam. She described the organization as acting on behalf of Iran's Supreme Leader and spreading its ideology aggressively.

The operation, which saw the deployment of approximately 670 police officers, involved the closure of four Shiite mosques linked to the IZH. This crackdown follows extensive searches in November of around 50 properties, including the Blue Mosque, which led to significant material confiscation and bolstered suspicions against the IZH.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry responded by summoning the German ambassador to Tehran, denouncing the ban as unacceptable. The German Foreign Office confirmed the meeting and reported that an urgent discussion was also held with the Iranian ambassador in Berlin.

The decision to shut down the IZH has garnered support from various German officials. Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann described the ban as a significant measure against Islamist extremism, while Berlin’s Interior Senator Iris Spranger underscored the government's commitment to defending democratic principles. Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher praised the intensive monitoring efforts of local security agencies that contributed to the federal ban.

The IZH, monitored since the 1990s by Hamburg’s State Office for the Protection of the Constitution, has been a focal point in the ongoing debate about extremist influences within Germany. The ban marks a decisive step in addressing concerns about foreign influence and extremist activities in the country.