Germany Expels Head of Banned Islamic Centre Hamburg

Germany has ordered Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh, head of the now-banned Islamic Centre Hamburg, to leave the country within two weeks or face deportation. Mofatteh, who was the deputy of Iran's Supreme Leader in Germany, is linked to pursuing radical Islamist goals. Social media accounts of the IZH have been taken down.

Germany has instructed Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh, the head of the recently banned Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH), to leave the country within two weeks or face deportation, according to Hamburg authorities.

The German city-state of Hamburg's interior ministry announced on Thursday that Mofatteh had been informed of this decision, giving him a deadline until September 11 to leave.

Mofatteh had led the IZH since summer 2018. Investigations by Hamburg's domestic intelligence agency revealed his role as the official deputy of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Germany up until the recent ban.

The IZH and its related social media accounts have been taken down following the ban in July, which cited the pursuit of radical Islamist goals. The centre, housing one of Germany's oldest mosques known for its turquoise exterior, was accused of acting as a direct representative of Khamenei and aiming to instigate an Islamic revolution in Germany.

Following these developments, Iran summoned the German ambassador in Tehran.

(With inputs from agencies.)