Jordan bans Muslim Brotherhood amid security concerns
Jordan's Interior Minister, Mazen Faraya, announced on Wednesday the ban on the Muslim Brotherhood, a fundamentalist Islamic organization and the most active opposition group. The minister cited the members' links to the authors of a foiled plot as the immediate reason for this decision.
What do you need to know?
- Ban on the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan: The ban was announced by Jordan's Interior Minister, Mazen al-Faraya.
- Arrests of Brotherhood members: A few days before the ban announcement, Jordanian security forces detained 16 members of the Brotherhood, accusing them of planning attacks using rockets and explosives.
- Political implications: It is uncertain whether the ban also applies to the Islamic Action Front, a party that originated from the Brotherhood and is the strongest opposition group in the Jordanian parliament.
Why did Jordan decide to impose the ban?
Jordan, like other countries in the region, views the Muslim Brotherhood as a threat to stability and security. Minister Mazen al-Faraya emphasized that this organization has a hidden agenda that undermines the foundations of the kingdom.
The implementation of the ban is a response to growing national security concerns, especially after the arrests of Brotherhood members suspected of planning attacks.
What are the consequences for the Islamic Action Front?
It is unclear whether the ban on the Brotherhood will also affect the Islamic Action Front, which has secured 31 seats in the Jordanian parliament. Despite being the strongest opposition group, the party remains isolated.
Following the ban announcement, Jordanian security forces raided its headquarters in Amman, which may signal further actions against this party, according to reports from rp.pl.
What are the broader implications for the region?
Jordan's decision is part of a broader regional trend, where the Muslim Brotherhood is perceived as a threat to those in power. Similar measures have previously been taken by Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
However, in Jordan, unlike in these countries, the Brotherhood has not been officially recognized as a terrorist organization.
The Muslim Brotherhood is the most significant Islamist organization in the world and a source of inspiration for Sunni radicals, according to rp.pl. Established nearly 100 years ago in Egypt, it has spread across much of the Sunni world. Movements derived from it, along with related political parties, have emerged in North Africa and the Middle East—from Morocco to Yemen, Syria, and the Gaza Strip.
