A deportation order was issued for Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh, former head of the Islamic Center Hamburg, following the ban on the organization by German authorities. The 57-year-old Shiite Muslim cleric has been instructed to leave within 14 days or face deportation to Iran at his own expense. Breaking the order could result in a three-year prison sentence.
Fears of Iranian influence
The Islamic Center Hamburg, under Mofatteh’s leadership until July, was accused of being controlled by Iran and promoting extremist ideologies in Germany. Despite the ban not targeting Islam as a religion, it aimed to combat the spread of harmful ideologies not in line with democratic principles.
The organization’s prominent Blue Mosque has been seized by the German government as part of the ban. Mofatteh was identified by intelligence agencies as a mouthpiece for Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. The move against the IZH aims to counter Iranian influence and extremist ideologies in Germany.
This article draws on reporting from the dpa news agency.
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