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Germany’s interior ministry on Wednesday announced the banning of the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) and its subsidiary organisations.
The military said the move became necessary citing the group’s pursuit of radical Islamist goals.
He said the military reached the decision after extensive investigations and searches conducted by authorities across eight German states.
Early on Wednesday morning, 53 premises linked to the IZH were searched under a court order. These included the IZH headquarters in Hamburg, home to one of Germany’s oldest mosques known for its distinctive turquoise exterior, as well as its affiliated groups in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin.
As part of the ban, four Shiite mosques associated with the IZH will be closed, the ministry confirmed.
All Efforts to reach the IZH for comment proved abortive as the organisation’s website was inaccessible.
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.”
Faeser emphasised that the ban targets extremist activities and does not impede the peaceful practice of the Shiite religion.
"This decisive action highlights Germany’s commitment to combating extremist ideologies and maintaining the integrity of its democratic values," Faeser said.
