Germany’s Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday the prohibition of the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH), citing its involvement in radical Islamist activities and its role as a representative of the Iranian government.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser disclosed the ban on X, stating, “Today we banned the ‘Islamic Center Hamburg,’ which promotes an Islamist, totalitarian ideology. It supports the terrorists of ‘Hizb Allah’ and spreads aggressive antisemitism.” The mention of Hizb Allah refers to the Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group Hezbollah.
The ministry’s statement highlighted that simultaneous searches were conducted at 53 locations across eight German states, targeting not only the Hamburg center but also its subgroups in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin.
The investigation revealed that the IZH was operating as an Iranian regime proxy, aiming to propagate the Islamic revolution within Germany. “The investigations clearly prove that the IZH does not merely act religiously. Rather, as a representative of the Iranian ‘supreme leader,’ it consistently and categorically fulfills the political guideline to be exporting ‘Islamic revolution,’” the statement elaborated.
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Authorities also noted the IZH’s endorsement of Hezbollah’s antisemitic and anti-Israeli stance, despite Hezbollah’s activities being banned in Germany since 2020. Minister Faeser emphasized, “This Islamist ideology is directed against human dignity, against women’s rights, against an independent judiciary, and against our democratic state.”
The ban follows a comprehensive investigation by Germany’s intelligence agency, which had monitored the Islamic Center Hamburg for decades. In a significant operation last November, German police raided the IZH and five other related associations, seizing substantial evidence.
“This [evidence] has been evaluated and substantiated suspicions to the extent that the IZH and its suborganizations are banned today,” the statement confirmed.
Following the allegations in November, the IZH had stated that it “condemns every form of violence and extremism and has always advocated peace, tolerance, and interreligious dialogue.” As of Wednesday morning, the center was unreachable for comment and its website remained inaccessible.
