WASHINGTON – On Sunday, President Trump announced intentions to classify the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization. This decision comes amidst escalating concerns about the group’s extremist activities and its expanding presence in Western nations.
Trump emphasized, “We are preparing the final documents,” asserting that this action would be taken “in the strongest terms.”
Support for this designation has been voiced by various think tanks as well as members of parliament.
Last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared both the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations within the state.
These federal classifications aim to sever funding and support for targeted groups.
The Muslim Brotherhood, established in Egypt in 1928, has ties to numerous terrorist entities; for instance, Hamas cites its connection to the group in its founding charter.
It was reported that there has been growing momentum in the Trump administration to officially designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization prior to the president’s announcement.
Several U.S. allies in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have already designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.
A recent report from the Global Institute on Antisemitism and Policy revealed that the Brotherhood’s 100-year strategy to infiltrate and undermine Western societies is now at its halfway point.
Dr. Charles Asher Small, the director of ISGAP, remarked, “This isn’t merely a political movement. It’s an ideological initiative aimed at eroding Western institutions while seeking to coexist with them.”
The organization encompasses various branches, generally advocating for strict Sharia law and promoting a caliphate.
A caliphate, in this context, refers to a government guided by rigid Islamic laws, which typically impose severe restrictions on women’s rights and personal freedoms.
One official noted, “Globally, the Brotherhood serves as a gateway to terrorism, imparting a religious ideology that legitimizes violence.”
Members often either create splinter factions or individually gravitate towards more violent extremist organizations.
The notion of designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group had been under consideration during the first Trump administration.
At that time, the Brotherhood responded, characterizing their efforts as promoting “moderate thinking and constructive cooperation” within communities.
The group’s motto reads: “Allah is our purpose. The Prophet is our leader. The Quran is our law. Jihad is our way. To die in the path of Allah is our best hope.”
In the Middle East, countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain have classified the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, with Egypt and Jordan imposing bans.
For months, Republican lawmakers have been advocating for the Trump administration to formalize such a designation.
In August, Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the Muslim Brotherhood’s “active” role and suggested that all its branches should be designated accordingly, acknowledging the extensive preparatory work required by the State Department.
