Jordan bans Muslim Brotherhood amid security concerns
Jordan's Interior Minister, Mazen Faraya, announced on Wednesday a ban on the Muslim Brotherhood, a fundamentalist Islamic organisation and the most active opposition group in the country. The minister cited its members' links to the authors of a foiled plot as the direct reason.
What do you need to know?
- Ban on the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan 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 Brotherhood members, accusing them of planning attacks using rockets and explosives.
- Political implications: It is unclear whether the ban also applies to the Islamic Action Front, a party originating from the Brotherhood that 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-Faraja emphasised that this organisation has a hidden agenda that undermines the foundations of the kingdom.
The imposition of the ban is a response to growing national security concerns, particularly after the arrests of Brotherhood members suspected of planning attacks.
What are the consequences for the Islamic Action Front?
It is not yet clear whether the ban on the Brotherhood will include the Islamic Action Front, which secured 31 seats in the Jordanian parliament. Although it is the strongest opposition group, the party remains isolated.
Following the ban announcement, Jordanian security forces raided its headquarters in Amman, which may indicate further actions against this party, reports rp.pl.
What are the broader implications for the region?
Jordan's decision is part of a wider trend in the region, where the Muslim Brotherhood is seen as a threat to those in power. Similar actions have previously been taken by Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
In Jordan, however, unlike these countries, the Brotherhood has not yet been officially recognised as a terrorist organisation.
The Muslim Brotherhood is the most significant Islamist organisation in the world and a source of inspiration for Sunni radicals, reminds rp.pl. It was established nearly 100 years ago in Egypt but has spread across almost the entire Sunni world. Movements derived from it and related political parties have emerged in North Africa and the Middle East—from Morocco to Yemen, Syria, and the Gaza Strip.
