Germany Cracks Down on Islamic Organization

Germany banned the fund-raising organization Al-Aqsa e.V. on Monday in a move to crack down on groups supporting terrorist activities abroad.

"Under the cloak of alleged humanitarian goals, Al-Aqsa encourages the use of violence and terror in the Middle East with the donations it collects," Interior Minister Otto Schily told a news conference shortly after police raided the organization's headquarters in Aachen and the homes of its staff.

Schily said the group financially supported so-called "martyr families" in Palestinian territories, in particular relatives of suicide bombers. "This is aimed at alleviating the concerns of potential bombers about the future well-being of their families." Al-Aqsa thus endorsed the readiness for such attacks, the minister said.

Financing terror acts

The charity is also accused of passing on donations to the Islamic militant group Hamas.

The government has confiscated the organization's assets, reportedly totalling 300,000 euro ($295,500). It has not made any arrests, Schily said, but legal repercussions -- such as deporting group members -- are being considered.

Schily (photo) said Al-Aqsa had promoted the idea of a "Holy War" against Israel and was incompatible with new anti-terror legislation adopted in Germany since September 11. "The goal of this organization is the destruction of the state of Israel," Schily said, noting Hamas had claimed responsibility for many attacks, including Sunday's bus bombing in northern Israel.

According to the Interior Ministry, Al-Aqsa e.V. was created in 1991 and headed by a Jordanian. It said the organization collected donations mainly at mosques and Islamic centers across Germany. The group's statutes claim the funds are geared towards support for Palestinians living in Germany, humanitarian projects for needy Palestinians, as well as supporting educational institutions in the Palestinian territories.

The Ministry said Al-Aqsa transfers the donations to social and humanitarian facilities in the Palestinian territories, which are tied into the organizational structure of Hamas.

A warning to radical groups

The tougher anti-terror legislation following the September 11 attacks in the United States allows Germany to ban foreign groups if they support violent or terror organizations abroad.

"We are all appalled at the series of attacks and suicide bombings that have caused immense suffering among victims, their families and the population of Israel," Schily said. "We have to put a stop to organizations which support such despicable attacks. We do not tolerate terrorist activities in Germany nor groups that support such activities abroad."

"This ban should serve as a warning to all those who may be tempted to behave like Al-Aqsa," Schily said. "We will take a hardline approach against other groups if they prove to be based on similar circumstances."

In December, the German government banned the first radical group since the September 11 attacks - the Union of Islamic Associations. This organization was led by the radical Metin Kaplan, who was convicted of incitement to murder last year.

Kaplan now faces deportation following Turkey's recent abolishment of the death penalty.