US Designates Muslim Brotherhood Branches in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as Terrorist Organizations
In a significant move, the United States has labeled the Egyptian, Lebanese, and Jordanian branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as “terrorist organizations.” This decision, announced on January 14, stems from their alleged support for the Hamas terror group, leading to the imposition of comprehensive sanctions on one of the oldest and most influential Islamist movements in the Arab world.
The formal initiation of this designation by Washington in November last year will result in financial and travel restrictions being imposed on the three branches. The US Treasury Department, on Tuesday, officially designated them as specially designated global terrorists, accusing them of endorsing or inciting violent terror attacks against Israel and American allies in the region.
According to the Treasury Department, the Muslim Brotherhood chapters claim to be legitimate civic organizations while actively supporting terrorist groups like Hamas behind the scenes. As a consequence of this decision, the United States will freeze any assets held by the Muslim Brotherhood within the country and criminalize transactions involving the group or its affiliates. Moreover, members’ ability to travel to the US will be significantly restricted.
The Egyptian foreign ministry welcomed the US decision, emphasizing the group’s extremist ideology and the direct threat it poses to regional and international security and stability. Founded in Egypt in 1928, the pan-Islamist Muslim Brotherhood once held significant influence across the Arab world. However, in recent years, it has faced crackdowns by various Arab governments, leading to a decline in its political reach and organizational strength.
Following the 2012 election of Mohamed Morsi in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood briefly rose to power through democratic means after the ousting of long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak. However, Morsi was removed from office in 2013 in a coup led by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has since launched a crackdown on the organization.
The US decision to designate the branches as terrorist organizations was partly based on their alleged support for Hamas. The Egyptian and Jordanian branches were accused of coordinating with Hamas, while in Lebanon, the Muslim Brotherhood allied itself with the Hezbollah terror group in launching attacks on Israel.
In Jordan, the Muslim Brotherhood had gained significant influence, with its political wing emerging as the main opposition party in parliament. However, the organization was banned in Jordan in April last year, with accusations of stockpiling weapons and plotting to destabilize the kingdom, which has a peace treaty with Israel.
In the United States, the Muslim Brotherhood has been a subject of political debate, with some claiming it is attempting to infiltrate the government to impose Islamic sharia law. Republican lawmakers have pushed for a formal ban on the Brotherhood, citing concerns over potential funding channels.
