President Donald Trump has initiated a significant move against the Muslim Brotherhood, commencing the process to designate certain chapters of the organisation as foreign terrorist groups.
The Executive Order and Its Directives
On Monday, 6th November, at the White House in Washington DC, President Trump signed an executive order targeting the influential Islamist movement. The order directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to compile and submit a detailed report. This report will assess whether to designate specific Muslim Brotherhood chapters operating in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan as foreign terrorist organisations and specially designated global terrorists.
The directive gives the secretaries a strict deadline, ordering them to move forward with any designations within 45 days of the report's submission. This action represents a major escalation in the US administration's stance towards the Brotherhood, an organisation with a long history across the Arab world.
Rationale Behind the Designation
The Trump administration has justified this move with serious allegations. It accuses Muslim Brotherhood factions in the named countries of supporting or encouraging violent attacks against Israel and US partners. Furthermore, they are accused of providing material support to the Palestinian militant group, Hamas.
A White House fact sheet explicitly stated the administration's position, noting that "President Trump is confronting the Muslim Brotherhood’s transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilisation campaigns against US interests and allies in the Middle East."
Historical Context and Potential Impact
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in the 1920s, began as an Islamic political movement intended to counter the spread of secular and nationalist ideas. It rapidly expanded its influence across numerous Muslim-majority nations, often operating in secret, and evolved into a major political and social force.
If the designations proceed, they will bring substantial sanctions against the designated chapters. This move could significantly alter the landscape of US diplomacy and counter-terrorism strategy in the Middle East, affecting relationships with key allies and the approach to Islamist movements globally.
