German Court Upholds Ban on IZH Affiliates Over Extremism Links

The Federal Administrative Court rejected emergency motions by two IZH-affiliated organizations, citing their financial and structural dependence on the banned Hamburg-based Islamic center.

• The Islamische Zentrum Hamburg (IZH) and five affiliates were banned in July 2024 for promoting extremist ideologies and unconstitutional goals, according to the German government.
• The Federal Administrative Court recently dismissed emergency motions by the Islamische Zentrum Berlin and Zentrum der islamischen Kultur Frankfurt to overturn the ban.
• The court determined that the affiliates were financially and structurally dependent on the IZH, with examples such as rent-free property use and covered expenses for one affiliate.
• The IZH itself has filed a lawsuit against the ban, arguing that the closure of its mosque, the Blaue Moschee, violates the constitutional right to religious freedom, but no hearing date has been set.
• German authorities describe the IZH as a key propaganda center for Iran in Europe, directly representing the Iranian Supreme Leader and advancing the ideology of the 'Islamic Revolution.'

3 Articles

Der Tagesspiegel Stern Die Zeit