by Lahav Harkov
Germany outlaws Hezbollah, raids mosques and local leaders’ homes
SUPPORTERS OF Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah
wave flags and pictures of Syrian President Bashar Assad during a rally
marking al-Quds Day in Maroun Al-Ras, near the Israeli border in
southern Lebanon, on June 8, 2018. (photo credit: REUTERS)
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer ordered that Hezbollah’s activities be banned due to violations of criminal law, he announced on Thursday.
Police
in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen and Berlin began searches in mosques
and residences tied to Hezbollah, “due to their financial support and
propaganda for the terrorist organization,” after the ban was announced
at 6 a.m.
Israel and the United States have long pushed
for Germany to ban the Shi’ite terrorist group. Germany previously drew a
distinction between Hezbollah's political arm and its military units,
which fought alongside President Bashar Assad's army in Syria.
Hezbollah
symbols may not be used publicly in any assembly, or in print, audio
and visual material in Germany, and its assets will be confiscated “to
the benefit of the Federal Republic of Germany,” the Interior Ministry’s
press release read.
The
ban is because Hezbollah is a terrorist group, and also because it
“calls for the violent elimination of the State of Israel and questions
the right of the State of Israel to exist.
“The
organization is therefore fundamentally against the concept of
international understanding, regardless of whether it presents itself as
a political, social or military structure,” the ministry said.
“Its
violent denial of the right to exist of the State of Israel also
fundamentally opposes Germany’s national ethos,” another Interior
Ministry document states.
The order allows German authorities to “use all available
instruments of the rule of law to crack down” on Hezbollah and its
German sub-organization, the statement reads.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the decision, saying it is “very important and values-based.”
Banning
Hezbollah is “significant in the world battle against terror,” Katz
added. “I want to express my appreciation to the German government for
this step and am certain many governments in the Middle East and victims
of Hezbollah’s terrorism share my gratitude.”
Katz
called on additional European states and the EU to follow Germany’s
lead and say that “Hezbollah, its military and political arms, is a
terrorist organization and must be treated that way.”
“This
is a welcome, much-anticipated and significant German decision,” said
American Jewish Committee head David Harris. "We now hope other European
nations will take a close look at Germany’s decision and reach the same
conclusion about the true nature of Hezbollah.”
Yesh Atid-Telem leader Yair Lapid, who has long advocated for European countries to ban Hezbollah, praised Germany on Twitter.
"This
is an important step in the fight against terror, and the time has come
for all of Europe to follow Germany, the Netherlands and the UK," Lapid
wrote. "The money Hezbollah raises abroad turns into weapons against
Israel. This requires an international effort and it is good that
Germany is committed to it."
Security officials believe that up to 1,050 people in Germany are associated with Hezbollah.
The
German Interior Ministry explained that there is no "Hezbollah
Germany," but its followers in the country meet at local mosques and try
to keep their association secret to avoid detection by the authorities.
However, supporters – especially the younger ones – declare themselves
as such on social media and online forums, using the terrorist group's
symbols.
In addition, Hezbollah has used Germany as a base for recruitment and fundraising.
Ministry
documents quote Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others at length
in demonstrating the Shi’ite terrorist group's aim of destroying Israel.
The
ban includes images of Hezbollah symbols that may not be displayed.
First is its yellow flag with a green logo and a stylized text of the
word "Hezbollah" with a hand grasping a gun. Another is the Imam
al-Mahdi Scouts, the Hezbollah youth movement, which looks similar to
the international scouts' fleur-de-lis logo, but with a hand and a
Lebanese cedar on it.
“Germany’s long-awaited action
today is significant for many reasons. It underscores that even while
the world is seeking to address health threats posed by Covid-19, it is
not ignoring national security threats. Germany’s decision accentuates
the need for all of Europe to counter the malign activities of
Iran-backed proxies wherever they may act, “ said Toby Dershowitz,
Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Strategy at the
non-partisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who has written
about Hezbollah’s illicit activities.
She notes that “Many parts of the US government have worked with their counterparts in Europe to take this action.”
In
2019, Congress once again urged Germany to designate the entire
organization as a terrorist entity, not only its military.
Representatives Ted Deutch, Grace Meng, Gus Bilirakus and Lee Zeldin
wrote a letter to Chancellor Merkel in June 2019 saying in part: “The
alliance between our two countries, whether for combating terrorism or
supporting democracy, has been a cornerstone of the transatlantic
relationship and NATO alliance, and our coordinated efforts have been
critical to our collective national security. That is why we hope that
Germany will consider this decision to, once and for all, fully
designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.” The letter came after
the Bundestag failed to pass a resolution that would refer to the entire
organization as a terrorist group.
On a trip to Berlin last
year, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hoped Germany would
follow Britain in banning Hezbollah. The UK introduced legislation in
February of last year that classified Hezbollah as a terrorist
organization.Pompeo
commended Germany's "strong action against Hezbollah" and called on
other "EU member states to follow suite in holding Hezbollah
accountable."
Reuters contributed to this report.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/international/germany-bans-hezbollah-conducts-police-raids-on-possible-members-626364
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