CV NEWS FEED // Germany’s interior ministry on July 24 banned a Muslim organization on account of its ties with Iranian radical Islam.
The ministry stated that the Islamic Center Hamburg (IHG) “acted as a direct representative of Iran’s Shi’ite Muslim Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and sought to bring about an Islamic revolution in Germany to impose theocratic rule,” according to Reuters.
The IHG “was not available for comment,” and their website is no longer accessible to the public.
By court order, 53 of the IHG’s premises were searched, and four Shi’ite mosques were shut down on the morning of July 24. According to the interior ministry, a search in November of 55 properties gave evidence supporting the ban of IHG.
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated, “Today, we banned the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg, which promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany. This Islamist ideology is opposed to human dignity, women’s rights, an independent judiciary and our democratic government.”
Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the German ambassador in Tehran, protesting the ban.
“Unfortunately what happened in Germany is an example of Islamophobia and is in opposition to the teachings of the Abrahamic faiths,” the foreign ministry stated on X.
Reuters states that “a German foreign ministry source” responded that Iran would have to “take concrete steps towards improving ties between the two countries.”
