The German branch of Iran’s Al-Mustafa International University is under scrutiny by security agencies, with concerns that the institution may be functioning as a recruitment platform for terrorism. According to a recent report by Bild, the university is suspected of aiding the Quds Force, a unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in recruiting agents for intelligence and militant activities in Germany.
The German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has closely monitored the situation. Thomas Haldenwang, head of the BfV, noted that extremists have used heightened tensions in the Middle East to increase propaganda and mobilization efforts. “Possible activities of the Iranian terror axis in Germany are being closely watched,” Haldenwang said.
Bild’s report cited U.S. Treasury Department documents, which claim that Al-Mustafa International University, with branches worldwide, serves as a front for the Quds Force’s recruitment activities, including gathering intelligence and recruiting for foreign militias. The Quds Force, designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 2019, is known for supporting militant operations outside Iran.
Hamburg Senate Warns of #Iranian Espionage and Threats Against #MEK Amid Rising Tensionshttps://t.co/eVlsj8CtK3 pic.twitter.com/G3UuGMCgaA
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) August 10, 2024
In Berlin, intelligence agencies have compiled a list of nearly 700 individuals linked to Al-Mustafa who are suspected of ties to espionage or supporting terrorism. The BfV is actively searching for members of a secretive IRGC unit believed to be operating in Germany, raising further concerns about national security.
The suspicions surrounding Al-Mustafa University come after recent bans on other Iranian-affiliated organizations in Germany, including the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) and the Islamic Academy Germany (IAD), which were also alleged to have connections to extremist activities.
German authorities’ heightened scrutiny of Al-Mustafa University in Berlin is part of a broader effort to crack down on Iranian-linked institutions suspected of facilitating espionage and extremist activities. Earlier this year, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ordered a nationwide ban on the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg (IZH) and its sub-organizations, citing their support for Hezbollah and the promotion of extremist, anti-constitutional ideologies. Faeser emphasized that the ban aimed to curb activities that threaten Germany’s democratic values, noting, “The Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology. This ban puts a stop to their activities.” The decision was backed by comprehensive investigations, including raids on 53 properties across multiple federal states, which exposed extensive links to extremist networks.