Germany shuts down Islamic Center Hamburg

The German Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday morning that it has closed the Islamic Center Hamburg and its affiliated organizations.

According to the German Ministry of Interior, these centers were pursuing totalitarian goals and allegedly spreading Islamic extremism.

According to Reuters, an earlier search of 55 properties conducted in November provided the basis for Wednesday’s ban of the center, locally known as Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg (IZH).

“Today, we banned the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg, which promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

She further said that this ban does not mean banning the ” the peaceful practice of the Shi’ite religion”.

It should be noted that the Imam Ali Mosque, known locally as the Blue Mosque, is one of Germany’s oldest mosques and is operated by the IZH.