Islamic center near Berlin banned over anti-Semitism

Germany has banned the activities of an Islamic center near Berlin, accusing it of links to the terrorist organization Hamas and anti-Semitism.

Brandenburg State Interior Minister Michael Stöbgen said in a statement yesterday: "The activities of the Islamic Center "Al-Salam" in Fürstenwalde are contrary to the constitutional order. We cannot tolerate associations that oppose the constitutional order or the concept of solidarity between nations. The culture of Stone Age Islamism must be stopped in order to prevent its growth."

He added, noting that the German government had issued a deportation order for the director of the Islamic Center in Hamburg in recent weeks: "The ban on the center's activities was also enforced by the police. The group's premises in the Fürstenwalde area, about 80 kilometers southeast of Berlin, and their private residences in Brandenburg and Berlin are being searched."

The reason for the ban on the activities of this Islamic center is its connection with the "Muslim Brotherhood", an Islamic movement founded in Egypt in 1928, whose activities are also banned. In addition, according to the Brandenburg Interior Minister, the Islamic center was also connected to the terrorist organization Hamas and tried to spread anti-Semitism.

The statement comes about 10 days before the September 22 state election, in which immigration and religious extremism play a significant role.

"The organized promotion of extremist ideas among young people carries risks," Stöbgen, a member of the Christian Democratic Party, said in his remarks. "The treacherous radicalization methods of extremist organizations and movements are behind this," he added. "This evil must be tackled at its root."