German authorities have banned a Muslim organisation, “Muslim Interaktiv,” accusing it of promoting anti-constitutional activities and calling for the establishment of a caliphate, the country’s interior ministry announced on Wednesday.
The decision was accompanied by police raids on seven buildings in Hamburg, where the group was based. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc said the government would not tolerate groups attempting to undermine Germany’s democratic order.
“We will not allow organisations such as ‘Muslim Interaktiv’ to undermine our free society with their hatred and attack our country from within,” Dobrindt said in a statement.
The group first drew national attention in April 2024, when over 1,200 demonstrators joined a rally in Hamburg criticising what they called Islamophobic policies in Germany. Some participants reportedly carried placards declaring “The Caliphate is the solution,” sparking public outrage and political debate across the country.
According to the interior ministry, the banned association is accused of rejecting women’s rights, promoting hatred of Israel, and spreading divisive propaganda online. The government announced that the organisation will be dissolved and its assets confiscated.
Hamburg’s Interior Minister Andy Grote of the centre-left SPD welcomed the move, describing it as a decisive step against extremism.
“We have eliminated a dangerous and very active Islamist group,” Grote said, praising the joint operation by federal and state authorities.
Police also conducted parallel raids in Berlin and the western state of Hesse targeting two other organisations, “Generation Islam” and “Realitaet Islam”, suspected of similar extremist tendencies.
Germany has taken a firm stance against Islamist extremism in recent years. In 2021, authorities banned the NGO Ansaar, accusing it of financing terrorism under the guise of charity work.
Officials say the latest ban demonstrates the government’s commitment to defending democratic values and national security against radical influences.
