After US, Israeli Pressure, Germany Bans Hezbollah Activity, Raids Mosques

A police officer walks out of Al-Irschad Mosque during raids on mosques and associations linked to Hezbollah in Bremen, Berlin, in Germany on April 30, 2020. (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)

BERLIN—Germany banned all Hezbollah activity on its soil on Thursday and designated the Iran-backed group a terrorist organisation, a much-anticipated step long urged by Israel and the United States.

Police also conducted early morning raids on mosque associations in cities across Germany which officials believe are close to the heavily armed Shi'ite Islamic extremist group.

“The activities of Hezbollah violate criminal law and the organization opposes the concept of international understanding,” said the interior ministry in a statement.

The move means that Hezbollah symbols are banned at gatherings and in publications or in the media and Hezbollah assets can be confiscated, said the ministry, adding as it is a foreign organisation, it is not possible to ban and dissolve it.

Security officials believe up to 1,050 people in Germany are part of what they describe as Hezbollah’s extremist wing.

Israel, which with the United States had been pushing Germany to ban the group and providing it intelligence, praised the move.

“It is a very important decision and a valuable and significant step in the global fight against terrorism,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

“I call on other European countries as well as the European Union to do the same. All the parts of Hezbollah, including the social, political and military wings are terror organizations and they should be treated as such,” he added.

Dawn Raids

In dawn raids, police searched mosque associations in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen and Berlin which they believe are close to Hezbollah and the private residences of the leaders of each association.

The associations under investigation are suspected of forming part of Hezbollah due to their financial support and propaganda for the terrorist organization, said the interior ministry.

Previously, Berlin had distinguished between Hezbollah’s political arm and its military units, which have fought alongside President Bashar al-Assad’s army in Syria.

Hezbollah is also a significant backer of the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab, which took office in January.

READ MORE

• The Hezbollah Cover-Up, and Bruce Ohr Connection

The EU classifies Hezbollah’s military wing as a terrorist group, but not its political wing. Britain introduced legislation in February of last year that classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.