Previous leader of the Islamic Center to depart from Germany
Following the ban on the identified extremist organization, Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH), its long-time leader, Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh, 57, has been ordered to leave Germany. The Hamburg Interior Department issued a deportation notice to him this week, specifying a 14-day timeframe for his departure, or face deportation at his own expense. The deadline for this action is September 11, 2024, and any attempt to re-enter or reside in Germany during this period could lead to a three-year prison sentence.
Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh held the position of IZH leader since the summer of 2018, having served as the official deputy of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Germany until recently, according to the Hamburg State Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
German Government Oversees Blue Mosque
Germany's Federal Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, banned IZH on July 24, labeling it as a "prominent Iranian propaganda outlet in Europe." Since then, the government has seized the center's properties and facilities, as well as five affiliated sub-organizations. The administration of the Blue Mosque, a facility associated with IZH, also falls under the federal oversight.
The IZH was assessed by the constitutional protection agency as an organization whose goal is to disseminate Islamic teachings in accordance with the Iranian leadership's understanding. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution considers IZH to be the most significant representation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Germany, alongside the embassy.
In November 2022, the Bundestag urged the federal government to investigate whether and how IZH could be closed as a base for operations of the Iranian regime in Germany. Separating religious practices from extremist activities can be challenging in associations focused on religion, and such bans are not common.
Despite the deportation notice issued to Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh, the long-time leader of the banned Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH), attempts to re-enter or reside in Germany during the designated period could result in a three-year prison sentence. The German government, under the federal oversight, now manages the Blue Mosque, a facility associated with the IZH, due to its affiliation with the banned organization.
