| Imam Ali Mosque Hamburg | |
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Imam Ali Mosque Hamburg |
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Uhlenhorst, Hamburg Germany |
| Geographic coordinates | 53°34′28.45″N 10°00′30.30″E / 53.5745694°N 10.0084167°ECoordinates: 53°34′28.45″N 10°00′30.30″E / 53.5745694°N 10.0084167°E |
| Religious affiliation | Islam |
| Website | www.izhamburg.com/ |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Architekturbüro Schramm und Elingius |
| Architectural type | Mosque |
| Year completed | 1961, 1963-65 |
| Construction cost | 2 Million Deutschmark |
| Specifications | |
The Islamic Centre Hamburg (german: Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg) is one of the oldest Iranian Shiite mosques in Germany and Europe. Established in Hamburg, in northern Germany, in the late 1950's by a group of Iranian emigrants and business people it rapidly developed into one of the leading Shia centres in the Western world.
Many leading Iranian theologians and politicians (including Ayatollah Beheshti, Ayatollah Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari or Mohammad Khatami) have spent time (often years) here, have encountered and studied Western sciences and philosophy and contributed to the Western understanding of Shia Islam.
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History
During a meeting at Atlantic Hotel (Hamburg) in 1953, a group of Iranian residents of Germany discussed the need to establish their own religious center. A letter was sent to the late Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Husayn Borujerdi asking him for help; Grand Ayatollah agreed with the plan and donated 100,000 Rials to the center. The construction began in 1960 and by 1965 it was completed. In the same year Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti was appointed to lead the center.
During the 1970's the centre played a significant role in bringing about the political rising of Iranian students in the West against the Shah and ultimately contributed to the Iranian Revolution.
In 2007, the center announced the launch of first Shia Union in Europe.[1]
Today the centre continues to play a role in furthering mutual understanding of Iranian Shia and the Western World.
Controversy
The centre is under surveillance of the Hamburg state Office for the Protection of the Constitution, (Landesamt für Verfassungsschutz) for its connections to the Hezbollah.[2]
See also
External links
- Official website (in German)
- Official website (in English)
- A brief history, Hamburg Islamic Center. (Broken link)
References
- ^ 1st Shia Union launched in Europe Press TV, April 22 2007
- ^ Official report Verfassungsschutzbericht 2007 (German) Retrieved on August 5 2008
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