Islamic Centre Hamburg

The Islamic Centre Hamburg ( IZH ) is one of the oldest Islamic institutions in Europe. It carries the Imam Ali Mosque at the Alster lake in Hamburg. The IZH is a member of the Shura Hamburg, the Central Council of Muslims in Germany and the Community of Ahl -Al - Bayt - clubs in Germany and represents the center of Shia Islam in Germany dar.

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The IZH is subordinated to the spiritual leader of Iran immediately. The head of the Islamic Centre Hamburg have been:

The current director Reza Ramezani previously headed the " Islamic Center Vienna " and had already shown there as an advocate of the Iranian state doctrine and is also a member of the scientific committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Imam Ali Mosque

The Imam Ali Mosque in Hamburg 1960-65 was on the Alster ( Uhlenhorst ) built as the fourth oldest mosque in Germany. The foundation stone was laid on 13 February 1961 the inauguration in 1963 and 1965. The plan was designed by the architects Schramm and Elingius (later Elingius & Niggemann ) performed. The construction was financed in the initial phase of Iranian merchants in Hamburg. The land costs amounted to DM 250,000 (1958 ) while the construction costs amounted to two million mark (1960 /65). Here, the foundation was very expensive due to the necessary expenses because of the moist subsoil on the Alster. The mosque with a dome and two minarets is performed by type " Iwan Mosque ". Client and support of the Shiite mosque is the " Islamic Centre Hamburg eV " ( IZH ). The prayer hall holds ( when using all areas) up to 1,500 people. The women usually pray in the inner circle of the prayer room ( behind the men ) and differ only in large crowds from the gallery.

Architectural history of the IZH

Founded in June 1953 in Hamburg -based Iranian merchants in consultation with their spiritual leader Ayatollah Hossein Boroujerdi in Qom (Iran ), an association for the construction of a mosque. Together with Hodschatoleslam Mohagheghi Mohammad, who was sent two years later to Hamburg, they instituted the mosque. At the suggestion of wholesale Ayatollah Boroudjerdi be doing business at the same time to a development association for co-financing together. In October 1957, a plot of land in Uhlenhorst district was acquired by the Alster.

For several drafts a plan has been selected, which was then executed by the architect Gottfried Schramm and Jürgen Elingius in collaboration with the Iranian architect Zargarpoor. In the presence of many Muslims, representatives of the City of Hamburg and of Hodschatoleslam Mohagheghi the foundation stone was laid on 13 February 1961.

In May 1963, the shell was completed. Already one million marks had been spent on the project. After Ayatollah Boroudjerdis death and the return Hodschatoleslam Mohagheghis in Iran the construction rested preliminary until under the following Head of the Centre, Ayatollah Beheshti, and with the help of donations from businessmen from Tehran and Hamburg in the years 1966/67, the offices upstairs and a part of the facade was completed.

Although the Iranian Embassy in Bonn ( under the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi at the time) the bank accounts of the mosque had be blocked, succeeded the community decided to build with the help of generous private donations in the years 1969-1979 the auditorium, complete the façade and the to begin extension of the lower floor.

In the tenure of Hodschatoleslam Moghaddam 1980-1992 washrooms and a kitchen and dining room have been set up in the basement. In addition, the artist A. Meshkat and A. Sadeghian from Mashhad with the decoration of the prayer room with tile mosaic began, and a simultaneous interpretation system was installed in the lecture room.

In the summer of 1992, the tile work was under the direction of Hodschatoleslam Ansari completed, including the mihrab ( prayer niche ), a gift of Goharschad Mosque in Mashhad.

Since the office and study rooms soon proved inadequate, 1996, the foundation for an extension beyond the original mosque was laid that will contain a library with a dome as well as office space and a parking garage.

Controversies

The IZH is under surveillance by the State Office for Protection of the Constitution of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. In a statement from 2004 states: " The IZH prosecuted as an extended arm of the Tehran revolutionary leadership consistently spread the goal of Islamist thought by our native model in Germany and to strengthen its influence on the Shiite community, including through the establishment of new Islamic centers and the support of relevant projects and through various forms of cooperation with other groups and institutions in Germany and other European countries. [ ... ] Indicative of the political orientation of the IZH is also his support of people living in Hamburg Hezbollah supporters, who, inter alia, meeting rooms are made available. "

The IZH occurred until 2004 regularly as a co-organizer of the " Al- Quds Day " on. For " Al Quds Day " in September 2010, the IZH his reluctance gave up again and publicly called on to take part and supported the event logistics with transportation and meals.

At the same time, however, a benevolent, translated on cooperation Islam to be mediated through public events such as the annual Day of the Open Mosque and in seminars and lectures, including Western scholars are invited.

Publications

• Muslims in Dialogue ( leaflet series)
• Salam Children ( German -speaking children books )
• Al- Fajr ( The Dawn, mosque magazine )