Germany bans Islamic organization, police search 190 sites
BERLIN — The German government announced Tuesday it had banned an Islamic group, “The true religion,” which is suspected of targeting teenagers to radicalize to fight in Syria and Iraq. At the same time, police raided about 190 offices, storehouses, mosques and apartments of members and supporters.
In searches in 60 cities in western Germany and in Berlin, police seized documents, hard drives, smartphones and weapons, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said. Nobody was detained.
The group — also known as “Read!” — has been distributing German-language copies of the Qur’an across the country. The interior minister said that more than 140 youths had travelled to Syria and Iraq to join fighters there after having participated in the group’s campaigns in Germany.
“The translations of the Qur’an are being distributed along with messages of hatred and unconstitutional ideologies,” de Maiziere told reporters in Berlin. “Teenagers are being radicalized with conspiracy theories.”