The German government has banned a Muslim organisation, Muslim Interaktiv, accusing it of pursuing anti-constitutional objectives, including calls for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate.
The ban was announced on Wednesday by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, as police conducted coordinated raids on seven locations linked to the group in Hamburg, its base of operations.
“We will not allow organisations such as Muslim Interaktiv to undermine our free society with their hatred and attack our country from within,” said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, a member of the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc.
The group first drew national attention in April 2024, after a rally in Hamburg attracted over 1,200 participants, many of whom carried placards declaring “The caliphate is the solution.”
The demonstration triggered public outrage and renewed debate over extremism and free speech in Germany.
According to the ministry, Muslim Interaktiv has been accused of rejecting women’s rights, promoting hostility towards Israel, and spreading radical Islamic ideologies online.
Authorities confirmed that the group will be dissolved and its assets confiscated.
Hamburg’s interior minister, Andy Grote of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), commended the move, describing it as the dismantling of “a dangerous and highly active Islamist network.”
Police also carried out related operations in Berlin and the western state of Hesse targeting two other organisations, Generation Islam and Realitaet Islam, suspected of having similar extremist leanings.
Germany has taken a firm stance against Islamist extremism in recent years.
In 2021, authorities banned the NGO Ansaar International, accusing it of channeling charitable donations to finance terrorist activities abroad.
