Germany Bans Islamist Group

Germany has banned the Dusseldorf-based Islamist group Ansaar International and several of its sub-groups on suspicion that that they were funding the al-Nusra Front in Syira, Palestinian Hamas and the al-Shabab terrorist group in Somalia. Some of Ansaar’s missionary activities also violated German law.

Raids were carried out across 10 German states and about half of the 90 people affected were in Dusseldorf. The sub-organisations although claimed to be functioning independently of Ansaar International were said to be financially dependent on one another, the main purpose being to disguise the flow of money.