Washington, 14 January (H.S.): President Donald Trump's administration designated three Middle Eastern branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations on Tuesday, enacting sanctions that target their operations and leadership amid concerns over violence and destabilization.
Executive Actions and Sanctions Details
The State Department classified the Lebanese branch as a foreign terrorist organization, rendering material support to it a criminal offense under US law, while the Treasury Department labeled the Jordanian and Egyptian chapters as specially designated global terrorists for aiding Hamas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described these measures on Tuesday as initial steps in a broader campaign to disrupt the groups' terrorist financing and activities worldwide. Treasury Undersecretary John Hurley emphasized that the Brotherhood has long inspired and funded threats like Hamas, endangering American security and allies.
Historical Context and Regional Bans
Founded in Egypt in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood faced a nationwide ban there in 2013 following political upheavals, with Jordan imposing its own comprehensive prohibition in April of last year. Trump's executive order specifically highlighted the Lebanese wing's rocket attacks on Israel post-Hamas's October 7, 2023, assault, alongside Jordanian leaders' support for the Palestinian group.
Group leaders maintain they reject violence, though US officials cite patterns of fomenting unrest.
Diplomatic Ripples and Expert Analysis
Allies such as the United Arab Emirates and Egypt welcomed Tuesday's designations, while nations like Qatar and Turkey—where Brotherhood ties persist—may encounter strained bilateral ties. George Washington University professor Nathan Brown noted potential impacts on visa processing, asylum claims, and immigration scrutiny across the US, Western Europe, and Canada, bolstering officials' leverage against affiliated individuals.
The move fulfills a 2019 campaign promise revisited in Trump's current term, echoing state-level actions in Florida and Texas.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
