Jordan bans Muslim Brotherhood group

Jordan bans Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group — Pro-Muslim Brotherhood protesters from the Islamic Action Front wave their party and Muslim Brotherhood flags and shout slogans during a protest in support of Palestinians, Jordan, 2015. Photo: Reuters

AMMAN, Jordan,— Jordan has formally outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s most prominent opposition group, and moved to seize all of its properties and assets, the Interior Minister said Wednesday.

Interior Minister Mazen Fraya stated the decision came after authorities found connections between members of the organization and a plot involving sabotage.

No immediate statement was issued by the group, which has maintained a significant presence in Jordanian society for decades.

“All activities by the group are now banned,” Fraya said. “Anyone supporting or promoting its ideology will face legal consequences.”

The order also includes the shutdown of all offices operated by the movement, and a prohibition on publishing its materials, he added.

Though the Muslim Brotherhood has long held grassroots support in cities and towns throughout the kingdom, critics say the group poses a serious security threat. It has been banned in several Arab countries.

The Brotherhood maintains it renounced violence years ago and adheres to peaceful political advocacy.

The Islamist organization split internally in 2015 over ties with its Egyptian parent movement. A faction that cut ties with Egypt was granted legal status in Jordan. However, the original group, even after disavowing formal links to Cairo earlier this year, remains banned.

Spokesman Badi al-Rafayaa described a recent government raid on the Brotherhood’s Amman offices as “illegal.” Jordanian officials, speaking anonymously, said the closure was due to the group’s unlicensed status and illegal internal elections.

One senior official confirmed that Jordan’s judiciary ordered all assets belonging to the outlawed group be transferred to the legally recognized faction.

The Brotherhood and its affiliates gained traction following the Arab Spring but faced strong pushback across the region. In Egypt, Mohamed Morsi — a Brotherhood member and the nation’s first democratically elected president — was deposed by the military. The group was later banned and labeled a terrorist organization.

The Muslim Brotherhood is designated as a terrorist organization by a majority of countries around the world.

Political analyst Henase Karim told iKurd that the Muslim Brotherhood maintains significant popularity among Jordanians. She noted that recent elections demonstrated strong support for an Islamic political party closely aligned with the Brotherhood, which now holds a majority in parliament.

Karim warned that Jordan’s political establishment may face mounting challenges in managing the influence of Islamist groups. “The system is in serious trouble,” she said.

“The Brotherhood’s presence extends across nearly every sector — from government offices to hospitals, universities, and even the military. You’ll find its supporters among doctors, lawyers, engineers, and politicians.”

She added that the group’s deep-rooted presence gives it influence throughout Jordanian institutions. “They have eyes everywhere,” Karim said. “Let’s hope the monarchy can endure, because the road ahead could be even more difficult.”

(With files from Reuters | AP)