Recognizing evil

Germany bans Muslim association for pursuing radical Islam

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-bans-muslim-association-pursuing-radical-islamism-2024-07-24/

By Reuters

July 24, 20246:25 AM PDTUpdated a day ago

FRANKFURT, July 24 (Reuters) - Germany has banned the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) and its subsidiary organisations for pursuing radical Islamist goals, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.

In a statement, it said the IZH had acted as a direct representative of Iran's Shi'ite Muslim Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and sought to bring about an Islamic revolution in Germany to impose theocratic rule.

The IZH was not available for comment by phone on Wednesday morning, and its website was not accessible to the public.

Iran's foreign ministry said it had summoned the German ambassador in Tehran on Wednesday in protest at the ban.

"Unfortunately what happened in Germany is an example of Islamophobia and is in opposition to the teachings of the Abrahamic faiths," it said on X, referencing Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The ministry said the ban violated freedom of expression and promoted violence and extremism.

Asked about the summoning of the ambassador, a German foreign ministry source said that it was up to the Iranian side to take concrete steps towards improving ties between the two countries that have been downgraded in recent years.