The Shiite militia Hezbollah and Israel have been fighting each other fiercely in the Middle East for several weeks. The organization also has supporters in Baden-Württemberg.
The pro-Iranian militia Hezbollah (“Party of God”) not only has influence in the Middle East, it can also count on around 100 followers in Baden-Württemberg, according to a response from the Interior Ministry to a state parliament inquiry from the AfD.
In Lebanon, the Hezbollah organization controls large parts of the country. It has been responsible for devastating attacks; it has fired hundreds of rockets into Israeli territory, but has been under pressure from the advancing army from the neighboring country for weeks. Most recently it was announced that, according to Iran, Hezbollah was responsible for the Drone attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence should be responsible for the city of Caesarea.
However, the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution has no knowledge that Shiite extremists are immigrating to Baden-Württemberg to strengthen Islamist networks, as the document states. Around 1,250 people nationwide are attributed to the organization, which has been banned in Germany since 2020. An important component of Hezbollah’s ideology is hatred of Israel.
Ostfildern
On Sunday, hundreds demonstrated with an Islamist influencer in Hamburg. In BW, too, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns of the influence of radical Muslims on young people.
Interior Minister: No Hezbollah network in BW
In connection with the ban proceedings against the “Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg eV” (IZH), there were raids nationwide in mid-November last year. The security authorities investigated the suspicion that the club supported Hezbollah. Only one of the 55 objects that were searched in seven countries was in Baden-Württemberg, the Interior Ministry now wrote. “In Baden-Württemberg, the IZH only maintains contacts with individuals. There are no structural connections,” emphasizes Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU).
At the end of July, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) banned the IZH as “an important propaganda center of Iran in Europe”. Police nationwide confiscated the assets and facilities of the center and five affiliated organizations.
According to Strobl, the LfV has no information about financial support for Islamist organizations from Iran. The same applies to Shiite extremist groups such as Hezbollah, which do not maintain any formal structures in Germany. “Their followers organize themselves in regional meeting places that are characterized by conspiratorial behavior and isolation. In Baden-Württemberg, 100 people are attributed to Hezbollah.”
Details about Hezbollah supporters in BW are not public
However, details about the supporters could not be given. If it becomes known, conclusions could be drawn, above all, about the working methods and the knowledge base of the Baden-Württemberg security authorities, to which foreign intelligence services and extremists could specifically adapt their approach. “This could impair the functionality of the security authorities, which in turn could have a damaging effect on the interests of the state of Baden-Württemberg.”
Stuttgart
Accusation of torture by Hezbollah member
Syrian Civil War: Suspected war criminal on trial in Stuttgart
Crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Syrian civil war: That’s why a Syrian has to answer before the Higher Regional Court in Stuttgart.
From.15.10.2024
6:00 p.m
SWR Aktuell Baden-Württemberg
SWR BW
A suspected member of Hezbollah has been on trial in state security proceedings at the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court since October 15th. The 32-year-old man is accused of committing crimes against humanity through killing, torture and deprivation of liberty as well as war crimes in Syria. The man is said to have been the leader of an armed Shiite group that joined Hezbollah, which is fighting on the side of the Syrian regime. The aim of this militia was to intimidate and expel the Sunni population in the city of Busra Al Sham, which is controlled by the Assad regime.
