Germany bans Islamic Center Hamburg – Investigations into suspected links to Iran

The German federal authorities have banned the Islamic Center Hamburg (I.Z.H.) and searched numerous properties associated with the organization. The Interior Minister stated that the I.Z.H. is classified as an extremist organization that supports Hezbollah and acts as a front for Iran's supreme leader. For years, the German judiciary has been investigating the Shia Muslim group for its alleged connections to Hezbollah, a militia supported by Iran and banned in Germany in 2020. According to Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, the I.Z.H. spreads an Islamist-extremist ideology and supports anti-Semitic endeavors. According to the Interior Ministry, court-ordered searches of 53 properties, including their assets, were conducted. Affected properties included buildings in Berlin and Hamburg; four Shia mosques, including the "Blue Mosque" in Hamburg serving as the group's headquarters, are to be closed. The Islamic Center Hamburg represents one of the most significant centers of the Shia Muslim community in Europe. Founded in 1953, the group was unavailable by phone and has not responded to email inquiries. Last year, the organization lost a legal battle against its classification as being controlled by Iran. In a statement from October of last year, the I.Z.H. emphasized that it condemns all forms of violence and extremism and is committed to peace, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue. The Interior Ministry justified its actions by stating that the current measures are based on evidence discovered during searches in November, during which cash, laptops, and mobile phones were confiscated.