The Islamic Center Hamburg was banned by the federal government. The Blue Mosque on the Alster was confiscated. The center, which is classified as extremist, is now taking legal action against this.
Around three weeks after the closure of the Blue Mosque on the Alster, the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH), which is classified as extremist, has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s ban. By closing the Imam Ali Mosque – as it is officially called – the ministry is depriving the devout Shiites who gather there of an important religious institution and preventing them from practicing their religion freely and undisturbed, as enshrined in the Basic Law, said the IZH’s lawyer. The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig confirmed receipt of the lawsuit (6A Z.24).
The representatives of the IZH described the reasoning given in the ban order, namely that the association and operator of the mosque is controlled by the Iranian government, pursues anti-constitutional goals and spreads the ideology of the Islamic Revolution in Germany, as an “insinuation” which they want to counter with the lawsuit.
Opening of the Blue Mosque is the main goal of the lawsuit
The main goal, however, is to reopen the Blue Mosque to believers. “If the Federal Ministry of the Interior is serious and the Shiite faith and religious practice should expressly not be affected by the IZH ban, there should be no concerns about the continued use of the place of worship for the purpose of religious practice,” the statement said.
At the same time, the IZH representatives complained that the ministry had turned down the association’s offers of talks prior to the ban. “The IZH as an association and the people affected by the search would like to continue to cooperate with the authorities,” they said.
“Iran’s propaganda center in Europe”
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) banned the IZH on July 24 as a “significant Iranian propaganda center in Europe.” Nationwide, police confiscated assets and facilities belonging to the center and five of its affiliated sub-organizations. Since then, the Blue Mosque has also been under federal administration.
In recent weeks, hundreds of believers have repeatedly gathered in front of the mosque to pray and demonstrate for the opening of the place of worship.
This is already the second lawsuit that the Federal Administrative Court has received in connection with the ban. Last week, the Frankfurt Center for Islamic Culture, which was also banned, filed a lawsuit and an urgent application in Leipzig against the ban.
Source: Stern
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