Prohibition of the Islamic Center Hamburg: Background and consequences

Prohibition of the Islamic Center Hamburg: Background and consequences

Hamburg/Berlin (dpa) - The future of the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH) is due to a ban on the brink that came into force on Wednesday, November 16, 2023. In this context, 54 objects were searched nationwide to emphasize the decision of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. This affects not only the blue mosque on the Alster, but also several other facilities connected to the IZH.

The role of IZH in the Shiite Community

The Islamic Center Hamburg is frequented by Shiite Muslims of various nationalities and is considered a central religious point of contact. For many years, prayer events and a large number of religious festivals and courses, including Islamic religious education and language courses, took place here. However, the protection of the constitution classifies the IZH as a Shiite Islamist association that is connected to the Iranian regime.

ban and its background

The ban on the IZH was initiated by the assessment of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution that the association spreads the teaching of Islam in a form that strongly corresponds to the ideals of Iranian leadership. Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh is one of the main representatives, who is seen as an important politician of the Iranian regime in Europe. A ban is usually imposed if the activities of an association violate criminal law or constitutional order, or if they endanger international understanding. In this case, the IZH seems to be questionable in at least one of these points.

Current search for evidence and the influence of the Middle East conflict

The time of the decision may be associated with the current situation in the Middle East. The conflict between Israel and Iran has increased in intensity in the past few weeks. The protection of the constitution has pointed out that in Shiitic-extremist circles often prevails an anti-Semitic attitude that is propagated in various media. This could have influenced the urgency of the ban.

The exploitation of the association's assets

In the event of the legally binding decision on the ban, the association's assets will pass into the property of the federal government. However, a central question remains what should happen to the former mosque. There are already voices in the Hamburg Citizenship that require to receive a place of prayer for Shiite Muslims, provided that the influence of Iran can be excluded.

community and the future of the Shiite Muslims

One of the central concerns in the discussion about the ban is the community of Shiite Muslims in Germany. Even if not all supporters of the IZH are attributable to extremist ideology, the closure of the center is perceived as a loss for many believers who have lived out their religious needs in this place. While some of the Iranian immigrants express a clear rejection of Islamist ideology, the fate of IZH is symbolic of the tensions within the community.

FAZIT

The closure of the Islamic Center Hamburg could have far -reaching consequences for the Shiite community in Germany. The decision is not only a legal act, but also reflects the social and political tensions that have arisen from the connections to extremist ideologies. The next steps will be crucial to shape the future religious life of the Shiite Muslims within German society.

- Nag