The German government has banned the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) and its subsidiary organisations, citing their alleged support for Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group and promotion of the Iranian leadership’s ideology. The ban follows police raids on 53 properties across the country.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated that material gathered from investigations, including searches conducted in November, confirmed serious suspicions about the Islamic Centre Hamburg’s activities. The IZH is accused of promoting an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology and supporting Hezbollah.
The German Interior Ministry described the IZH as a “direct representative of Iran’s ‘Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution,’” alleging that it aggressively disseminates the ideology of the Islamic Revolution and seeks to instigate a similar revolution in Germany. The centre has been under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency due to its links to Hezbollah, which Germany considers a “Shiite terrorist organisation.” Hezbollah has been banned from carrying out activities in Germany since 2020.
The IZH is also accused of spreading aggressive anti-Semitism. Germany has been combating a rise in anti-Semitism, which has surged following Israel’s war on Gaza.
Founded by Iranian immigrants in 1953, the Islamic Centre Hamburg has been a focal point of concern for German authorities. The ban will result in the closure of four Shiite mosques in Germany, including the Imam Ali Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque. There have been increasing calls to close the mosque due to its alleged ties to Iran. The IZH’s assets are being confiscated as part of the enforcement of the ban.
Despite these allegations, the Islamic Centre Hamburg has previously claimed that it condemns all forms of violence and extremism, advocating for peace, tolerance, and interreligious dialogue.
