Berlin, 15 August 2024

In light of the confrontation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel, the Mideast Freedom Forum Berlin (MFFB) sheds light on the threat posed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to internal security in Germany and Europe. The analysis takes a comprehensive look at the organisation and shows how deeply the IRGC is involved in terrorist activities and why urgent measures are needed to curb this threat.

Ulrike Becker, Head of Research at the Mideast Freedom Forum Berlin, explains: "One of the declared goals of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to export revolution and fight against Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards have been supporting, training and financing militias throughout the Middle East region for years. However, they also pose a threat to internal security in Germany. In the past, the regime's spying and assassination plans in Europe and Germany have repeatedly been uncovered, which were to be carried out if the confrontation between Israel and the regime in Tehran came to a head. It is therefore high time for the German government to take decisive action against this danger and take measures against the Iranian network and in particular against the Revolutionary Guards in Germany and Europe."

The Mideast Freedom Forum has published a current policy paper on the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). The detailed analysis emphasises not only the political but also the profound economic power of the IRGC. The organisation is also represented in Germany through numerous companies and banks. However, it is particularly clear how the IRGC has posed a direct threat to public security in Germany for decades. Recent cases show that the focus is primarily on Jewish individuals and organisations with links to Israel.

In order to effectively combat the threat posed by the IRGC, the MFFB urgently recommends that the Federal Government impose a ban on IRGC activities along the lines of the ban on Hezbollah. Furthermore, it remains necessary to campaign at EU level for the IRGC to be listed as a terrorist organisation. In addition, even after the closure of the Islamic Centre Hamburg, decisive action must continue to be taken against the numerous structures of the Iranian regime. Only a holistic strategy can effectively and sustainably counter the threat to public security posed by the Revolutionary Guards and their network.

The author of the policy paper, Jan Rauffer, explains: ‘The cornerstone of action against the IRGC must be a ban on its activities. Only on such a basis can a sustainable policy be designed, as it provides the necessary legal certainty for the further handling of the network beyond the immediate effect.’

You can find the analysis of Jan Rauffer here (link), a short version can be found here (link).