Explained: Why is Donald Trump designating chapters of Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist groups?
With the current move, the US is attempting to confront the Muslim Brotherhood's transnational network which, they allege fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against US interests and allies in the Middle East.
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to consider whether certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood should be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
The Muslim Brotherhood, one of the Arab world’s oldest and most influential Islamist movements, is designated as a terror organisation by some countries, but not by others. Trump’s categorisation attempts can have a significant impact on the group’s workings in the Middle East, where their influence is most pronounced.
What does Trump’s order say?
The order instated by Trump directs the US Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit a report on whether to designate any Muslim Brotherhood chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under 8 U.S.C. 1189 and Specially Designated Global Terrorists under with 50 U.S.C. 1702 and Executive Order 13224.
The order mandates that the Secretary of State and Secretary of Treasury take action within 45 days after the report to designate chapters as FTOs and SDGTs if appropriate. The ultimate aim of the order is said to be to eliminate the designated chapters’ capabilities and operations and deprive them of resources as to end any threat they might pose to the US, its citizens and the country’s national security.
What is behind the move?
Muslim Brotherhood is a transnational Islamist organization founded in Egypt by Islamic scholar Hassan al-Banna, a major early proponent of pan-Arab patriotism but who importantly rejected Arab nationalism and regarded all Muslims as members of a single nation-community. With time his teachings spread far beyond Egypt. It later advanced into the political arena, aiming to end British colonial rule in Egypt.
With the current move, the US is attempting to confront the Muslim Brotherhood’s transnational network which, they allege fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against US interests and allies in the Middle East.
The move is especially significant as it comes in reference to the October 7, 2023, of Hamas against Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The military wing of the Lebanese chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood reportedly helped terror groups launch multiple rocket attacks against both civilian and military targets within Israel. It is in reference to such acts that the order against the group is being initiated by Trump now.
A senior Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leader was also said to encourage violent attacks against US partners and equities in the Middle East on the same day that Hamas perpetrated the October 7 attack. Reports also indicate that Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood leaders have long provided material support to the militant wing of Hamas.