For years, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been monitoring an Islamist organization that runs a prestigious mosque in Hamburg. It must now cease its activities.
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) has banned the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH) because, in her ministry’s opinion, it propagates the establishment of an authoritarian Islamic rule. As a direct representative of the Iranian “revolutionary leader,” the IZH spreads the ideology of the so-called “Islamic Revolution” in Germany in an aggressive and militant manner, according to a statement from her ministry.
“It is very important to me to make a clear distinction: We are not acting against a religion,” emphasized Faeser. The peaceful practice of Shiite faith and religion is expressly not affected by the ban.
In connection with the ban, which also includes five sub-organizations, raids were carried out this morning at the so-called Blue Mosque in Hamburg and at a mosque association in Berlin. Based on court orders, a total of 53 properties in Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria were searched, the Federal Ministry of the Interior announced.
The IZH is an extremist Islamist organization that pursues anti-constitutional goals, the statement continued. After the extensive searches against the IZH last November, the serious suspicions have been confirmed, said Faeser. The ideology is directed against women’s rights, against an independent judiciary and against the democratic German state.
“In addition, the Islamic Center Hamburg and its sub-organizations support the terrorists of Hezbollah and spread aggressive anti-Semitism,” said the Interior Minister. The American Jewish Committee Berlin welcomed the ban.
Berlin’s Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) said the measures showed that ongoing attacks on central fundamental principles would not be tolerated. “I would also like to stress again that hatred and incitement against Jews and Israeli citizens will not be tolerated in Berlin.”
Source: Stern
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