Raid against Islamists also in Baden-Württemberg
As part of a Germany-wide raid against Islamists associated with the "Islamic Center Hamburg" (IZH), the police have also searched a property in Stuttgart, according to the State Ministry of the Interior. "With today's searches, we are sending a clear signal to all those who endanger our free democratic basic order," said Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) on Thursday morning in Stuttgart. He spoke out against all forms of extremism and anti-Semitism.
The center is considered an extension of the Iranian regime, which congratulated the Islamist Hamas on its attack on Israel and described it as a "turning point in the continuation of armed resistance".
In total, properties in seven federal states have been searched since 6 a.m. as part of the investigation, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said that the IZH had long been under observation by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and was classified as Islamist.
A statement said that the activities of the sponsor of the Imam Ali Mosque in Hamburg were "aimed at spreading the revolutionary concept of the supreme (Iranian) leaders, which is suspected of violating the constitutional order in Germany and the idea of international understanding". According to reports, the investigators are also looking at accounts. However, as the association has not yet been banned, no money has been confiscated.
The searches in Stuttgart were reportedly carried out under the direction of the State Office of Criminal Investigation and supported by forces from the regional police headquarters in Stuttgart and the Einsatz police headquarters as well as the federal police.
Since the Hamas attack on Israel, anti-Semitic acts have once again become more of a focus in the south-west. Israeli flags raised in solidarity have often been damaged. According to the police, a flag hoisted in front of the building of a religious community and the façade were most recently pelted with a mixture of earth on Wednesday evening in Backnang. The 2022 security report listed a total of 245 cases of anti-Semitic crimes in the state.
In a recent debate in the state parliament, the state's anti-Semitism commissioner, Michael Blume, pointed out the dangers posed by anti-Semitism: "Anyone who only fights anti-Semitism for the sake of the Jews has not yet understood how dangerous this conspiracy belief is," he said. Anti-Semites are not capable of democracy or peace and are therefore a threat to all people.
The raid against extremist elements linked to the IZH has extended beyond Hamburg, with police involving in a search operation in Stuttgart as well. This action is a firm response to individuals who threaten our democratic principles and values, including those who encourage violence and anti-Semitism.
Given the escalation of conflicts, both local and international, it's crucial for the police to remain vigilant against any form of extremism, particularly when it involves violence and hatred towards specific communities, such as the Jews.
Source: www.dpa.com
