UANI Applauds Germany For Closure Of Islamic Center Of Hamburg For Links To Iranian Regime Islamist Extremism, Hezbollah, And Antisemitism

(New York, NY) – United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace and IRGC Research Director Kasra Aarabi released the following joint statement today after the German Interior Ministry proscribed the Islamic Center of Hamburg (IZH) and its sub-organizations in Germany. This action follows new UANI evidence on IZH that was shared with German authorities last year. 

Ambassador Mark D. Wallace said: “UANI applauds the German government’s decision to ban the Islamic Center of Hamburg – Ayatollah Khamenei’s office in Germany – over its Islamist extremist and antisemitic activities and its ongoing support for Hezbollah. Last year, a UANI investigation provided the German Interior Ministry with new evidence exposing the clear ties between IZH, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This evidence subsequently led to police raids – as reported by German media – which proved decisive in the closure of IZH. 

“The closure of IZH is a crucial step towards curbing the Iranian regime’s Islamist extremist and terrorist activities in Europe. Germany has taken a leading role in these efforts, and we urge it to take the next logical step by proscribing the IRGC as a terrorist organization. UANI’s experts are on standby to provide ongoing support to the German Interior Ministry in its efforts to counter the Iranian regime’s extremist operations in Germany.”   

Kasra Aarabi, IRGC Research Director, UANI – whose research and evidence on IZH’s ties to Hezbollah and the IRGC was shared with the German Interior Ministry – said: “Today’s announcement is a victory in the fight against Khamenei’s regime and the IRGC. IZH was a key cog in the IRGC’s operation to nurture homegrown Islamist extremism in Europe – its closure is a major loss for Khamenei, the IRGC, and Hezbollah. 

“In November 2023, UANI shared new evidence with the German Interior Ministry exposing IZH’s deep-rooted ties to Hezbollah, including its former head’s close relationship with Hezbollah terror chief Hassan Nasrallah. Since then, we have engaged the German authorities, who have been very proactive on this issue. We thank them and applaud their commitment.

“While IZH is now closed, there are multiple organizations and entities linked to the IRGC and Hezbollah still operating on European soil. Today’s announcement should stand as a clear warning to the IRGC and its linked entities in Europe – we at UANI are coming for you.”

To learn more about UANI’s previous research and reporting on IZH, click here.