Extremist Mofatteh Departs from Germany
Right before the deadline, Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh made a last-ditch effort to contest his expulsion from Germany. The previous leader of the banned Islamic Center Hamburg and representative of Iran's religious regime is now out of the country. "This is great for safety," commented Interior Senator Grote.
Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh departed Germany around two weeks following the issuance of his deportation notice. He left on a Tuesday evening, as announced by the Hamburg Interior Department. This meant he left prior to the evening's deadline. If he attempts to return within the next 20 years, he faces imprisonment.
Hamburg's Interior Senator, Andy Grote, stated: "We've successfully deported one of Germany's most notable Islamists with the departure of the Islamic Center Hamburg's former head." Mofatteh's exit is beneficial for Germany's security, as he tried to challenge his deportation just before the deadline. On Tuesday afternoon, an urgent appeal to postpone the deadline was submitted to Hamburg's Administrative Court.
Prior to the deportation order, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser prohibited the Islamic Center Hamburg, labelling it as "a significant Iranian propaganda machine in Europe." The center was considered an Iranian government outpost and was watched by domestic intelligence agencies for promoting Islamic ideologies. In late July, the center, along with several of its subsidiaries, was banned by the Federal Interior Ministry. The ministry declared the Islamic Center Hamburg to be an extremist Islamic organization with goals opposing the constitution. The famous "Blue Mosque" operated by the center on Hamburg's Outer Alster, along with other IZH assets, were confiscated.
According to the Hamburg domestic intelligence agency, Mofatteh is the top-ranking spiritual authority of Shiites in Europe, excluding the UK, and takes orders directly from Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He is considered Khameini's representative in Germany. "Mofatteh is a well-trained representative of the current regime in Tehran. His family is deeply entrenched in the state-religious elite of Iran," the latest report from Hamburg's State Office's domestic intelligence agency states. He has been leading the Islamic Center Hamburg since 2018.
The Federal Interior Ministry, responsible for overseeing internal affairs in Germany, had previously banned the Islamic Center Hamburg due to its connection to Iran's propaganda efforts. Following his departure, Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh, the former head of the banned Islamic Center Hamburg, is now under the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
