Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordans Muslim Brotherhood designated as terrorist organization

US Designates Muslim Brotherhood Organizations as Terrorist Groups

The US government has designated organizations affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as “terrorist” groups. The move was announced on Tuesday, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump earlier this month.

According to a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the designations are part of an ongoing effort to counter the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood. The US will use all available tools to deprive these organizations of resources and support terrorism.

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna and has branches across the Middle East. While the group claims to promote peaceful political participation, some countries have accused it of links to violence and destabilization.

In Lebanon, the designated organization is known as al-Jamaa al-Islamiya and is represented in the Lebanese Parliament. In Jordan, the group won 31 seats in the House of Representatives through its political arm, the Islamic Action Front.

The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has been banned in Egypt since 2013, following a military coup that overthrew President Mohamed Morsi. The US designation comes after Trump’s executive order, which directed his administration to begin the process of blacklisting the group.

Reactions from the designated organizations have been mixed. Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya in Lebanon stated that it is a licensed political organization with no affiliation with foreign forces. The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood rejected the designation, citing previous administrations’ decisions not to blacklist the group.

The US designations impose economic sanctions and ban current and former members from entering the country. They also make it illegal to provide material support to the designated organizations.

Source: Al Jazeera