The Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH), which was recently closed by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland, had taken direct orders from the Islamic Republic of Iran and supported Hezbollah, according to documents obtained by German news agencies. The mirrorpublished the website on Thursday.
Earlier this year, security officials raided the Islamic Center and confiscated documents and data. This led to the closure of the center and the confiscation of the Blue Mosque in Hamburg in July.
In addition to the center based in Hamburg, branches in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin were also banned and four Shiite mosques were closed, the ministry said.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the German ambassador in Tehran in protest against the ban.
“Unfortunately, what happened in Germany is an example of Islamophobia and contradicts the teachings of the Abrahamic religions,” the Iranian ministry said on X, formerly Twitter, referring to Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The ministry said the ban violated freedom of expression and promoted violence and extremism.
Der Spiegel examined a 220-page ban notice from the Interior Ministry, which is supposed to reveal how closely the center works with the Islamic regime and what connections it has to the Lebanese-based terrorist group Hezbollah.
Direct communication from Iran
The documents reportedly show that the center’s director, Mohammad Mofatteh, communicated closely and regularly with the office of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Communication between Mofatteh and the regime also extended to WhatsApp messages, where Mofatteh reportedly exchanged text messages with the Revolutionary Bureau’s deputy head of international affairs, Mehdi Mostafavi. From late 2021 to late 2023, the two exchanged over 650 messages.
Mostafavi reportedly briefed Mofatteh on “priorities for 2024” and “Khamenei’s messages for German-speaking pilgrims in 2023.”
Mofatteh also reportedly received anti-Israel propaganda.
The Iranian officials also reportedly sent messages trying to sell Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks in southern Israel, which resulted in sexual violence and the murder of more than 1,200 people. Mofatteh was instructed to say that the “Islamic Resistance” had “no other means” to stop Israel’s “crimes.”
In addition to direct communication with the regime, Khamenei’s personal seal and stamp were found on donation receipts allegedly sent to Yemen.
Links to Hezbollah
Investigators also reportedly discovered links between the center and Hezbollah, finding documents showing that a sheikh linked to the terrorist group had traveled through Germany thanks to the “financial, moral and advisory support” of the center’s former director.
The mirror reported that the sheikh’s personal phone number was also stored in the director’s phone.
Mofatteh had claimed in previous statements that there was no reason for the closure of the mosque and that “the Islam that we preach here is the Islam of reason, the Islam of peace, friendship and peaceful coexistence of people.”
The website said his lawyer refused to respond The mirrorQuestions.
