TEHRAN – The German government has ordered the closure of the Islamic Center of Hamburg and its affiliated organizations across the country, citing accusations of propagating extremism and radical Islamic ideology.

Early Wednesday, police raided 53 properties linked to the IZH across eight German states. The raids resulted in the confiscation of assets and the shutdown of four mosques. The ban also extends to the IZH’s subgroups in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin.

In a statement released on Wednesday, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced the ban on the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH) for "pursuing radical Islamist objectives." She stated that the police were conducting searches at the famous 'Blue Mosque,' operated by the IZH.

"The Islamic Center Hamburg and its affiliated organizations are undermining the German state by promoting an Islamist-extremist ideology that opposes human dignity, women's rights, an independent judiciary, and democratic governance," Faeser asserted.

The IZH, which runs the Imam Ali Mosque (known locally as the Blue Mosque) – one of Germany's oldest mosques – has been accused of supporting Hezbollah and spreading aggressive antisemitism. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Resistance group known for repelling Israeli military advances in Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, was designated as a terrorist organization by Germany in 2020.

In a related operation last November, German authorities raided 55 properties linked to the group. Police seized materials allegedly indicating that the IZH operated in a "highly conspiratorial manner" and tried to conceal its political aims, though the ministry did not specify the nature of the evidence collected.

Despite these actions, the Islamic Center Hamburg has consistently condemned all forms of violence and extremism, advocating for peace, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue. 

The IZH and the Blue Mosque on the Alster, run by the IZH, is used as a central religious point of contact by Shia Muslims of various nationalities. Regular prayer events and many religious festivals have taken place there for decades. In addition, various teaching activities are offered there - for example, Islamic religious instruction for children and instruction in the Arabic, Persian, and German languages.

A source close to the Islamic Center in Germany, who wished to remain anonymous, described the recent police raids as violent and unprecedented during an interview with Iranian News Agency IRNA. The source stated that police officers simultaneously raided Islamic centers in Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg early Wednesday morning, confiscating properties and assets.

The source reported that police entered mosque grounds with dogs, ignoring religious considerations, and have been conducting inspections for several hours. Additionally, the homes of the officials, directors, imams, and staff of these centers are surrounded by German police, making it impossible to contact them.

The informed source described the operation as a "heavy-handed onslaught" and a "violent attack" by the German government against a religious institution, which is unprecedented.

The source also rejected the German authorities' accusations of connections between the four Islamic centers in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt, or with any government. They emphasized that these centers operate independently and that their history dates back to before the Islamic Revolution.

The source further stated that the activities of these centers fully comply with German laws and regulations. The imams are identified, recruited, and employed by the community and are endorsed and supported by religious authorities.

The source described the function of the Islamic centers in Germany as organizing religious ceremonies, promoting peace, friendship, and peaceful coexistence, and stressed that these organizations have not undertaken any actions that would jeopardize Germany's security.

An independent commission assigned by the German government last year reported that Muslims in Germany face racism, hatred, and discrimination daily. The report highlighted that Muslims in Germany are subjected to daily stereotyping and racism, from kindergarten to old age.

The current crackdown on Islamic centers in Germany has raised concerns about religious freedoms and the treatment of the Muslim community in the country.

Following the ban, the AA, a leading Turkish news agency, reported that Turkey's religious affairs directorate expressed concern over the ban of the Islamic Center Hamburg, deeming it an unfair act against Muslims living in Germany.