German authorities raid mosque in Hamburg

A large police contingent raided the Imam-Ali Mosque at the Hamburg Outer Alster early Wednesday morning. This action follows Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) directive to ban the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH).

Early morning raid on ‘Blue Mosque’

The Imam-Ali Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque and home to IZH, was the target of a police raid initiated by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior. This follows a previous raid in November last year aimed at securing evidence.

According to sources, this raid was executed to enforce an organizational ban against the IZH. German Minister Faeser has declared the group an “extremist, anti-constitutional organization of Islamism.”

Long-standing debates and investigations

The IZH, established nearly 62 years ago in September 1962, has been a contentious topic in Hamburg for years, with CDU, FDP, and AfD party members advocating for its closure.

The German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) also called for a ban last November. The German Federal Ministry of the Interior initiated a club law investigation against the IZH, leading to the raid. Investigations have extended beyond IZH, targeting five other affiliated organizations, with searches conducted in multiple states including Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Allegations of extremism and international links

The IZH has been under surveillance by the German domestic intelligence service since 1993 according to the Welt. It is considered an extension of the Iranian regime, promoting its ideology in Europe.

The center’s director is reportedly referred to as the “representative of the Supreme Leader,” and the mosque is directly linked to the office of the Iranian revolutionary leader. The Hamburg Administrative Court confirmed last June that the IZH could be classified as an “extremist organization.”

The IZH has also been accused of supporting Hezbollah, a banned organization and considered as terrorist organization in Germany. Approximately 30 Hezbollah supporters are believed to frequent the IZH, prompting federal prosecutors to launch investigations.