Jordan outlaws Muslim Brotherhood group, confiscates assets

Express Tribune

23-04-2025

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Jordan has imposed a sweeping ban on the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's most prominent opposition group, following allegations that some of its members were involved in plotting acts of sabotage. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Minister of the Interior, Mazin Fraya, who described the group's activities as a threat to national stability.
'All activities of the group are now banned, and anyone found promoting its ideology will be held accountable under the law,' Fraya stated. He confirmed that police had surrounded the group's headquarters and were conducting searches.
The crackdown includes the closure and confiscation of all offices and properties associated with the Brotherhood, as well as a ban on the publication or promotion of its materials.
The government alleges that the group's members were operating covertly and engaging in actions that could undermine the country's security and unity. 'It has been proven that members of the group operate in the dark and engage in activities that could destabilise the country,' the Interior Ministry said in a statement. It further alleged that one leader's son was among those involved in attempts to manufacture and test explosives for use against Jordanian security forces.
The Muslim Brotherhood, which has functioned legally in Jordan for decades and enjoys significant grassroots support, has yet to issue an official response. The group has long been a political force, particularly in urban areas, and operates a political wing, the Islamic Action Front (IAF). In recent parliamentary elections, the IAF secured the highest number of seats amidst a backdrop of mass protests against Israel's war in Gaza.
Although the Brotherhood was officially banned in Jordan a decade ago, a splinter faction was subsequently licensed, and authorities continued to tolerate the Islamic Action Front to a limited degree. The extent and enforcement of the new measures remain unclear.
Last week, Jordanian authorities said they had arrested 16 individuals linked to 'unlicensed groups,' accusing them of manufacturing short-range missiles, stockpiling automatic weapons and explosives, and running illegal training operations. The group was accused of plotting attacks on security forces and concealing a ready-to-use missile.
Jordanian officials have also linked the Muslim Brotherhood to a foiled sabotage plot in 2024. The Brotherhood has denied all allegations, insisting that it is committed to Jordan's stability and peaceful political engagement.
In recent years, the Jordanian government has steadily tightened restrictions on the Brotherhood, banning certain activities and arresting vocal critics. The group's growing role in anti-Israel demonstrations has further fuelled concerns among authorities, who fear its expanding influence.
International human rights organisations have criticised the Jordanian government for what they describe as escalating repression. They allege that authorities have used vague and sweeping laws to crack down on political opponents and stifle dissenting voices.
Founded in Egypt nearly 100 years ago, the Muslim Brotherhood operates branches across the Middle East. While its leaders maintain that it renounced violence long ago and seeks to establish Islamic governance through democratic means, many regional governments continue to view the group as a destabilising force.
The unfolding situation is being closely watched both domestically and internationally, as concerns mount over Jordan's political climate and shrinking space for opposition voices.