WANA (Sep 01) – In the summer of 2024, Germany made a decision that not only impacted its diplomatic relations with Iran but also provoked reactions from the Muslim community across Europe. The closure of the Islamic Center of Hamburg sparked a crisis between the two nations, quickly escalating into a broader diplomatic conflict. But was this move merely a security measure, or were there hidden motives behind it?

 

The Islamic Center of Hamburg, a significant religious and cultural institution for Shia Muslims in Europe for over half a century, was shut down by the German government. Known as the Imam Ali Mosque and the Blue Mosque, this center was established in the 1960s with the support of Iranian religious authorities and the investment of the Iranian community residing in Germany.

 

However, in recent years, especially following the Islamic Revolution in Iran, it had been seen as a cultural arm of the Islamic Republic in Europe.

 

The closure was accompanied by accusations of “promoting extremist ideologies” and supporting groups like Hezbollah. Nancy Faeser, Germany’s Minister of the Interior, justified this action as part of the government’s efforts to counter Iran’s influence in Europe.

An Iranian woman passes in front of the entrance of the German Language Institute of Tehran after closing by the Iranian police in Tehran, Iran, August 20, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

According to German officials, the center had become a hub for activities that conflicted with Germany’s democratic values and human rights. But why did the German government resort to such drastic measures instead of diplomacy? Some analysts suggest that this decision was not merely a security measure but part of a broader Western strategy to curb Iran’s power on the international stage.

 

The closure of the Islamic Center of Hamburg was not a sudden event. Since November of the previous year, following a media and government campaign against the center, coalition parties in Germany’s government had introduced a proposal in parliament calling for the closure of this religious and intellectual institution.

 

At that time, German police raided the Islamic Center of Hamburg and 54 other centers across seven federal states under the pretext of investigating unsubstantiated claims.

 

Germany’s Interior Ministry stated that these centers were inspected on suspicion of activities against public order. But why did the German government take such actions without providing concrete evidence? Could these raids be part of a larger project to weaken Islamic institutions in Europe?

 

Bagheri: Germany Must Face Hamburg Center Closure Fallout

WANA (July 28) – In a recent phone call, Ali Bagheri, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, spoke with Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, regarding the illegal and human rights-violating actions of the German police in closing Islamic centers in Germany, including the Hamburg Islamic Center.   During the call, Bagheri expressed strong […]

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These questions become even more significant amid escalating international tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence. Was the closure of this center part of a coordinated Western pressure campaign to change Iran’s behavior? Or was this action more related to Germany’s internal issues and the government’s efforts to control and restrain domestic opposition to its immigration and religious policies?

 

The Islamic Republic of Iran quickly responded, condemning the action as a blatant violation of religious rights and summoning “Hans-Udo Muzel,” the German ambassador, to explain the decision. Iran’s reaction highlighted the country’s sensitivity to Western efforts to undermine its cultural and religious positions beyond its borders.

 

In the past, there had been occasional accusations and media campaigns against this religious-cultural organization in Germany. However, since the unrest in some Iranian cities in 2022, media and political attacks on the Islamic Center of Hamburg intensified, especially as Germany, along with the U.S. and some European countries, openly supported these disturbances.

 

Germany’s ruling parties called for the closure of this cultural and intellectual center of Iran, despite their ostensible commitment to “defending freedom of speech.” Just days after Germany’s action, Iran sealed two branches of the “Goethe Institute” in Tehran, institutions crucial for promoting the German language and culture in Iran, which suddenly became a focal point of diplomatic tensions.

 

Closure of Two German-Affiliated Centers in Tehran Following Judiciary Order

WANA (Aug 20) – On Tuesday morning, two branches of centres affiliated with the German government, which are claimed to have violated Iranian laws and are believed by the Iranian authorities to have committed multiple illegal activities and extensive financial misconduct, were shut down by order of Iran’s judiciary.   Media outlets reported that the […]

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From the moment this news broke, speculation arose about the connection between the closure of the language institute and the closure of the Islamic Center of Hamburg. Some media outlets confirmed this speculation, labeling it a “reciprocal action against the closure of cultural and Islamic centers in Germany.”

 

However, the official news came from the judiciary-linked Mizan News Agency: “Two branches of illegal centers affiliated with the German government, which had committed numerous illegal activities and financial violations, were closed by judicial order.”

 

Germany’s Foreign Ministry condemned this action and summoned the Iranian ambassador in Berlin for an explanation.

 

This saga did not end there. Five weeks after the closure of the Islamic Center of Hamburg, news emerged of the expulsion of Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh, the head of the center. Mofatteh, who had led the center since 2018, was accused of activities that endangered Germany’s national security.

 

He was ordered to leave Germany within 14 days, or he would be forcibly expelled to Iran. Additionally, he was banned from re-entering Germany for three years, with any violation of this order leading to imprisonment. But is this accusation genuine, or is it more of a political message to the Islamic Republic of Iran?

 

Closure of Illegal German-Affiliated Centers in Tehran Following Judiciary Order

This chain of actions and reactions not only heightened tensions between the two countries but also raised serious questions about the future of Iran-Germany diplomatic relations.

 

Iran interpreted these actions as part of a broader hostile Western policy against the Islamic Republic, deeming them inconsistent with human rights. Meanwhile, Germany attempted to justify these actions as part of its security policies to counter Iran’s influence in Europe.

 

But are these actions truly aimed at “maintaining security” and “combating extremism,” or are they part of a larger project to weaken Iran’s position on the international stage? These are questions whose answers remain shrouded in uncertainty.

 

One thing is certain, however: In a rapidly changing global political landscape, actions and reactions on the diplomatic stage can quickly lead to new crises. This new crisis between Iran and Germany might mark the beginning of a new era of complex and tense relations between the two countries.