Iran’s interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has strongly condemned the German police’s move to ban the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH) and its subsidiary organizations, stating that the step violates fundamental principles of freedom of religion.

“The decision by German judicial and law enforcement authorities on inspection of premises affiliated to IZH, which is among the oldest Islamic centers [in the country] with a history of 70 years and a precious heritage of late top Shia authority Grand Ayatollah [Hossein] Boroujerdi, is an unjustified move and flouts all principles of freedom of religion and thought,” Bagheri Kani wrote in a post published on the social media platform X.

He added that the measure is a gift to extremists, violence mongers and advocates of terrorism.

“The terrorist regime of Israel, which uses every excuse to divert public opinion from the ongoing genocide against Palestinians, also welcomed the German police’s move,” Bagheri Kani stated.

The top Iranian diplomat held the German government responsible for the repercussions of the unjustified and vicious act.

Bagheri Kani underlined that the Iranian government, alongside the Iranian nation and expatriates, supports the promotion of Islamic and Iranian thoughts and civilization as well as the rights of Muslims and Iranians in any part of the world, including Germany.

Germany’s Interior Ministry said on Wednesday it had “banned the Hamburg Islamic Centre and its affiliated organizations throughout Germany to date, as it is an Islamist extremist organization pursuing anti-constitutional objectives.”

The center is accused of supporting Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement, which Berlin designates as a “terrorist” organization, as well as promoting “aggressive anti-Semitism” and spreading “authoritarian, theocratic rule.”

As part of the ban, the ministry said it will also close four Shia mosques, including Hamburg’s Blue Mosque, one of Germany’s oldest mosques.

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