Large-scale operation against 'Hamburg Islamic Center' in Germany
Security forces have conducted large-scale raids against the "Hamburg Islamic Center" (IZH) and five of its affiliated organizations in Germany. 12punto contributor Reyhan Küçük compiled the details of the operation as reported in the German press.
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Translation: Reyhan Küçük
According to the Ministry of the Interior, searches were carried out at a total of 54 locations across Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, and North Rhine-Westphalia. The center, which is based in Hamburg and operates the Blue Mosque on the Alster, had been under surveillance for a long time.
"WE CANNOT TOLERATE INCITEMENT"
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser stated that the IZH had drawn their attention due to serious allegations.
Faeser "Especially in this period when many Jews feel threatened, we cannot tolerate Islamist propaganda or antisemitic, anti-Israel incitement in any way." she said, emphasizing that any suspicious activity would be pursued with determination.
MATERIALS THAT COULD SERVE AS EVIDENCE WERE SEIZED
The Minister of the Interior, stated that the IZH had been under surveillance for a long time and was classified as Islamist. She noted that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as well as state and federal police forces, participated in the raids and their preparations.
Faeser explained that these raids were conducted against Islamist extremism and were not directed at a religion or another state. Security forces seized potential evidence, such as computers and mobile phones, from IZH premises, and the process of evaluating these materials has begun.
SENATOR SUPPORTED THE OPERATION
Hamburg Interior Senator Andy Grotedescribed the federal-wide raids as a "hard blow" and stated that they were long overdue. Grote said, "The faster the IZH disappears from Hamburg, the better. Today, we have taken another step closer to our goal," noting that the raids mark progress in the process of banning the center, which has been considered Islamist for years.
The activities of the IZH are said to be aimed at spreading the revolutionary concept of Iran's supreme leaders. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution believes that the IZH has significant influence over certain mosques and associations and maintains an antisemitic and anti-democratic stance on behalf of the Iranian state.
WHAT IS THE HAMBURG ISLAMIC CENTER?
The IZH is the umbrella organization that operates the Blue Mosque, known as the İmam Ali Mosque, which was founded by Iranian immigrants in 1953. It is considered one of the most important centers for Shia Islam in Europe. The center brings together Shia Muslims of various nationalities and is a founding member of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany.
Monitored by the Hamburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution since 1993, the IZH is viewed as an external branch of Tehran, despite presenting a moderate image to the outside world.
Following the recent wave of protests in Iran, the German Parliament requested that the government conduct an assessment regarding the banning of the associationandit.
This information was compiled by Holger Schmidt from SWR, an ARD terrorism expert.