Latest news with #MazinAl-Farrayeh
Arab News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Houthi spokesperson: US-Houthi ceasefire deal does not include Israel
What recent arrests and ban mean for political influence of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood DUBAI: Jordan's recent ban on the Muslim Brotherhood marks a historic rupture in the kingdom's political landscape, ending decades of uneasy coexistence and raising urgent questions about the future of political Islam in the country. The Brotherhood is now outlawed after authorities uncovered arms caches and arrested last month 16 people for allegedly plotting rocket and drone attacks that authorities said 'aimed at targeting national security, sowing chaos and sabotaging within Jordan.' Interior Minister Mazin Al-Farrayeh's subsequent decision to declare membership of the organization and promotion of its ideology as illegal reinforced a 2020 court ruling that had been largely unenforced in what analysts described as a 'strategy of containment.' Jordan's announcement comes at a time of heightened regional tension and surging Islamist activism amid Israel's war on Gaza. The question on many political observers' lips since the arrests has been: Why was Jordan targeted by Islamists, and how will the kingdom respond in the coming days? The Brotherhood's resurgence in the political spotlight coincided with the eruption of the war on Gaza, as it staged nationwide pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The Brotherhood's political trajectory shifted significantly following the government's liberalization process in the wake of the April 1989 protests in southern Jordan. (AFP/File) Hazem Salem Al-Damour, director-general of the Strategiecs think tank, said the group sought to exploit strong anti-Israel sentiment and deep-rooted grassroots support to rally backing for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group founded as a Brotherhood offshoot. Pro-Hamas slogans at protests highlighted the group's transnational and pan-Islamic loyalties, often at odds with Jordan's national interests, especially since Hamas' offices were shut down in Jordan in 1999. Authorities were further alarmed when investigations revealed that the busted Brotherhood cell had ties to Hamas' Lebanese wing, which trained and funded some of the arrested militants. This followed a similar incident in May 2024, when Jordan accused the Brotherhood of involvement in a foiled plot by Iranian-backed militias in Syria to smuggle weapons through Jordan. At the time, the Brotherhood said that while some members may have acted independently, the organization itself was not involved and remained part of the loyal opposition. It also claimed that the weapons were not intended for use in or against Jordan, but were being transported to support Palestinians in Gaza in their fight against Israeli security forces. However, Jordan has also witnessed a surge in attempts to smuggle weapons and explosives from Syria for delivery to the West Bank over the past year. 'In a sense, the government, with its ban on the Brotherhood, shut down the group's external support networks, through which it had sought to exploit Jordan's geographic position in the region,' Al-Damour told Arab News, referring to the April 23 ban. According to Al-Damour, the government's decision was driven by security concerns rather than political calculations, and that the Brotherhood's dual approach — public activity paired with covert operations — had become unacceptable to the state. On April 30, four of the 16 defendants were sentenced by Jordan's state security court to 20 years in prison after being convicted of 'possession of explosives, weapons and ammunition.' Mohammed Abu Rumman, a former Jordanian minister of culture and youth, regards the perceived radicalization of the Brotherhood's activities as unprecedented. 'The production of weapons, explosives and missiles, as well as planning of drone operations marked a significant shift in the mindset of young members of the movement, signaling a clear break from the organization's traditional framework and presenting a new challenge for the state,' he told Arab News. The Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood's cross-border, partisan character dates back to its founding. Inspired by the Egyptian organization established by Hassan Al-Banna in 1928, the Jordanian branch began as a charitable entity and gradually expanded its reach, becoming deeply embedded in the country's social and political landscape. Pro-Hamas slogans at protests highlighted the group's transnational and pan-Islamic loyalties. (AFP) For more than four decades, the Brotherhood maintained a close alliance with the early Hashemite regime, backing the late King Hussein during pivotal moments, including the attempted military coup of 1957. The absence of competing political forces — such as leftist and nationalist parties — due to martial law created a vacuum. This allowed the Islamist movement to broaden its religious-ideological outreach and deepen its political engagement across Jordanian society, including among labor unions and student groups. The Brotherhood's political trajectory shifted significantly following the government's liberalization process in the wake of the April 1989 protests in southern Jordan. With the lifting of martial law and the resumption of parliamentary elections, the Brotherhood expanded its charitable network by launching its political wing, the Islamic Action Front, in 1992. It quickly seized the moment, winning a strong bloc in the 11th parliament and earning broad popular support, establishing itself as a major political force. Although the Brotherhood and its political wing retained distinct leaderships and organizational structures, the line between the two remained blurred. Tensions between the movement and the government first emerged over the 1994 peace treaty with Israel and deepened in 1997, when the IAF chose to boycott the parliamentary elections. By 2007, the Brotherhood viewed the regime's policies as increasingly restrictive, particularly changes to the electoral law. The group participated in that year's elections only symbolically, winning just six seats — a disappointing result that triggered a leadership crisis within the organization. The 2011 'Arab Spring' revolts marked another period of tense relations in Jordan between the organization and the state, as the ascent of Islamist regimes to power in Egypt and Tunisia sparked alarm in the kingdom. In 2015, Jordan passed a law dissolving the Brotherhood and transferring its assets to a newly established entity, the 'Muslim Brotherhood Association,' in a move widely seen as an attempt to split the more hardline 'hawks' from the moderate 'doves.' This new group was formed by leaders who had either been expelled from the original organization or resigned amid an increasingly bitter internal power struggle. The 2011 'Arab Spring' revolts marked another period of tense relations in Jordan between the organization and the state. (AFP/File) Abu Rumman, the former minister, says that Jordan's decision to reinforce the 2020 court ruling aims to regulate political activity and ensure transparent participation, potentially benefiting the Brotherhood by pushing it away from the dualities that previously defined Islamist politics and caused internal divisions. 'The strict application of the rule of law requires the Brotherhood to clearly define its identity and role within the national framework, while cutting all foreign ties that raise ambiguity and suspicion,' he said. The future now hinges on the findings of ongoing security investigations and the extent of the IAF's links to the Brotherhood's suspected activities. Soon after the activities of the Brotherhood were outlawed on April 23, Jordanian security forces raided the premises associated with it, acting in line with the new directive. The IAF has not been officially banned, though the authorities also carried out raids on its offices. Al-Damour, from the think tank Strategiecs, outlined three possible scenarios: the ban remains limited to the Brotherhood, it extends to the IAF if its involvement is proven, or both are fully dismantled. Under the Political Parties Law, the IAF could face a ban if its involvement in the plot is confirmed, a possibility that has grown after it suspended the membership of three accused members. This would mark a fundamental shift in Jordan's political landscape and alter the course of reform announced in 2022. If the IAF survives, Al-Damour said, it would need to formally sever ties with the banned Brotherhood, shrinking its size and influence by cutting off its traditional electoral base, mobilization network, and campaign funding. Alternatively, the party may attempt to circumvent the ban by quietly absorbing sympathizers and non-involved members of the banned group. 'Individuals from the banned group or its affiliated party may establish new licensed political parties, associations, or civil society organizations; and second, they may seek membership in already licensed Islamic parties. Their motivations could vary from genuine political participation and reform to quietly infiltrating these parties,' he said. In 2015, Jordan passed a law dissolving the Brotherhood and transferring its assets to a newly established entity, the 'Muslim Brotherhood Association.' (AFP) However, according to him, a purely legal approach may not be enough to eradicate threats to national security. 'This casts doubt on the likelihood that all members of the banned group will comply with the law,' Al-Damour said. 'Instead, the radical elements of the group may intensify covert activity similar to what the group practiced in Egypt during the 1950s and 1960s, and again after the July 30, 2013, revolution, as well as in Syria during the 1980s and Algeria in the 1990s.' Security and intelligence efforts will likely remain active and focused on tracking the organization's radical remnants, their networks, and alignment with regional counterparts invested in their continued activity. Amer Al-Sabaileh, a geopolitical and security expert, stresses the need for a clear state strategy that extends beyond security measures to address social and media aspects. 'The organization has enjoyed freedom of operation for years, building extensive support networks,' he told Arab News. 'To contain these implications, the state should construct a strong, solid narrative that clearly communicates the risks associated with the Muslim Brotherhood's activities within Jordan.' Jordan's break from the Muslim Brotherhood, then, is both a response to immediate security threats and a reckoning with the movement's complex legacy. The question posed at the outset — why was Jordan targeted by Islamists? — finds its answer in the confluence of history, ideology and the shifting sands of Middle Eastern geopolitics. The kingdom's next steps may determine not only the fate of political Islam within its borders, but also the broader trajectory of reform, stability and national identity in a region where the lines between domestic dissent and regional conflict are increasingly blurred.
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Jordanian Sources Confirm Policies to ‘Contain' Muslim Brotherhood are No Longer Viable
Following official decisions to dissolve and ban the Muslim Brotherhood, senior Jordanian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that "the policies previously adopted by governments and security officials to 'contain or appease' the Islamic movement (the Brotherhood and the Islamic Action Front) are no longer under consideration.' On Wednesday, the Jordanian government announced a ban on all activities related to the Brotherhood, declaring any associated actions as 'illegal.' Security forces carried out raids on the group's premises, seizing its assets. Sources linked the escalating stance against the Muslim Brotherhood to their refusal to condemn the cells looking to 'stir chaos,' which security agencies uncovered last week. Jordanian authorities have charged 16 detainees in the case with possession of explosives, weapons, and planning to produce drones. According to the same sources, 'the trial of the accused is expected to begin next week.' In a statement on Wednesday, Jordan's Interior Minister Mazin Al-Farrayeh announced a ban on all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, emphasizing that any activity linked to the group would be considered illegal. Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that 'new investigations were launched after security forces seized documents, computer devices, and recordings from the Brotherhood's and the Islamic Action Front's offices, the political arm of the group.' They added that 'if any organizational links to the chaos plot are proven through the banned group, the Front will be held legally accountable, and the constitution and laws will be applied to dissolve any party attempting to carry out military activities within Jordan.' Under official procedures against the Muslim Brotherhood, membership in the group has been declared illegal, and promoting its ideology is now prohibited. Authorities have also ordered the closure of any offices or premises used by the Brotherhood across the kingdom, even if shared with other entities. Sources reiterated that 'if investigations reveal any organizational links between the Brotherhood or the Islamic Action Front and the cell implicated in the 'chaos plot,' the provisions for dissolving the party under the constitution and the relevant political party law will be enforced.' Sources also disclosed to Asharq Al-Awsat that 'security authorities are targeting social media accounts managed from abroad, which have been spreading false rumors and information designed to incite unrest and deepen divisions among Jordanians based on their origins and backgrounds.' They confirmed that the investigation into these accounts revealed connections to 'elements linked to the Brotherhood.' On Thursday, security forces carried out arrests targeting these individuals.
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Jordan Bans Muslim Brotherhood, Declares Group Illegal
Jordan has officially outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, ending decades of relations that oscillated between coexistence and confrontation. Interior Minister Mazin Al-Farrayeh announced the decision at a press conference in Amman on Wednesday, declaring all activities linked to the group prohibited and stressing that any affiliation with the Brotherhood would now be considered a violation of the law. "The group is now illegal," Al-Farrayeh said, underlining that the move places the Brotherhood outside the bounds of lawful political and social engagement in the kingdom. The decision marks a significant shift in Jordan's political landscape, where the Brotherhood once held considerable influence despite intermittent government crackdowns. While the Brotherhood has not issued an official response, its political wing, the Islamic Action Front - represented in parliament by dozens of lawmakers - said on Wednesday evening that it remains committed to its national role as an 'independent Jordanian political party, entirely separate from any other entity.' Al-Farrayeh said that membership in the Muslim Brotherhood is now prohibited, along with any promotion of its ideas. 'All offices and premises used by the group, whether solely or in conjunction with other entities, will be shut down,' he said. Al-Farrayeh also warned political parties, media outlets, social media users, and associations against publishing or sharing content related to the group. He said authorities had accelerated the work of a designated committee tasked with seizing the Brotherhood's assets, both movable and immovable. The clampdown follows the recent arrest of 16 individuals in what officials called the 'Chaos Cells' case. Security agencies alleged the suspects were involved in manufacturing rockets using improvised tools, possessing explosives and firearms, hiding a ready-to-launch missile, and developing drone technology. The plans, authorities said, included recruiting and training individuals within Jordan and sending them abroad for further instruction. The developments mark a dramatic escalation in Jordan's stance against a group that once held sway over segments of public and political life in the kingdom. The Palestinian group Hamas has called on Jordan to release the 16 suspects accused of plotting attacks inside the kingdom, saying their actions were motivated by support for Palestine and posed no threat to Jordan's security. In response, Al-Farrayeh accused members of the now-dissolved Muslim Brotherhood of operating covertly to destabilize the country. 'It has been proven that individuals from the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood were working in the shadows, engaging in activities that undermine stability, disrupt national unity, and threaten public order and security,' Al-Farrayeh said. The crackdown comes as Jordan moves to implement a 2020 court ruling that dissolved the Brotherhood, which was founded in the kingdom in 1945. Authorities had previously avoided enforcing the decision in what Jordanian sources described as a strategy of 'containment,' but officials say the group failed to respond with 'responsible conduct.' While the Brotherhood has been outlawed, its political arm - the Islamic Action Front - continues to operate. The party, which insists it is entirely independent of the Brotherhood, won 31 of 138 seats in last September's parliamentary elections. The distinction between the party and the banned group is now under renewed scrutiny, as the government seeks to distance state institutions from any perceived Brotherhood influence. Jordanian authorities are continuing to draw a line between the banned Muslim Brotherhood and its licensed political wing, but political sources say the distinction may be tested in the coming days. Senior officials told Asharq Al-Awsat that decision-making circles are still committed to separating the outlawed Brotherhood from the Islamic Action Front, which is officially recognized under Jordan's political parties law. However, they warned that the legal process surrounding the so-called 'Chaos Cells' case - expected to go to trial next week- could shift that calculus. 'There is concern that any escalation by the party, whether through street mobilization or social media platforms, could force decision-makers to reconsider the party's legal standing,' one source said, adding that authorities may invoke laws that could lead to its dissolution and end what they described as the Brotherhood's dominance over Islamic political representation in the kingdom. Islamic Action Front Secretary-General Wael Saqqa reaffirmed the party's independence, saying: 'We continue to carry out our national role as a fully independent Jordanian political party, unaffiliated with any other organization.' He stressed the Islamic Action Front's commitment to the Jordanian constitution and laws, expressing full confidence in the judiciary. Meanwhile, security forces have raided and inspected Brotherhood offices across the capital Amman and several provinces as part of a broader move to seize the group's properties. Sources also told Asharq Al-Awsat that Islamic Action Front offices were searched as well, with officials seeking to ensure that no Brotherhood-related documents or materials were being stored on party premises. Al-Farrayeh has warned that individuals or entities found to be involved in criminal activities linked to the Brotherhood or the 'Chaos Cells' plot will face legal action, as the government continues its sweeping clampdown. Speaking during the announcement of the ban, Al-Farrayeh said authorities would act based on the findings of ongoing court proceedings. 'Appropriate measures will be taken against any person or group proven to be engaged in criminal acts connected to these cases or the dissolved group,' he said. Al-Farrayeh also accused Brotherhood members of attempting to destroy large volumes of documents on the same night officials revealed details of the alleged plot last week. 'They tried to smuggle and destroy significant quantities of documents from their offices in an effort to conceal suspicious activities and affiliations,' he claimed. The minister said the government's actions stem from its 'firm commitment to protecting society and shielding it from acts that threaten public order and distort the values of responsible political engagement.' Jordanian political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that further escalations may follow, particularly concerning the Jordanian Teachers' Syndicate, an entity long linked to the Brotherhood's political agenda. Tensions between the government and the Brotherhood have simmered for over a decade, particularly during the 2010-2013 'Jordanian Spring' protests. Officials accused the group of exploiting the unrest to gain political leverage, particularly in its campaign to reinstate the Teachers' Syndicate, which was suspended by court order in 2020. The syndicate, one of the kingdom's largest civil organizations, has been a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle between the state and Islamist political actors. The Jordanian Teachers' Syndicate, long dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood and its political wing, remains in legal limbo nearly four years after a court ordered its closure and the suspension of its activities. The syndicate, which had been led by Brotherhood-affiliated figures for multiple terms, was frozen by a July 2020 court ruling that also mandated the closure of all its offices for two years. At the time, summonses were issued for the union's president and board members in connection with ongoing legal proceedings. However, despite the expiration of the suspension period, the union has not resumed operations. Political sources say successive governments - those of Prime Ministers Omar Razzaz (2018–2020) and Bisher Khasawneh (2020–2024) - chose not to enforce the court ruling fully, seeking to avoid public backlash over a politically sensitive issue. The uneasy status quo was upended following the shock results of last September's parliamentary elections. The Islamic Action Front and Brotherhood-affiliated candidates secured around 460,000 votes, nearly a third of the 1.6 million ballots cast in the party-list segment of the vote, despite a pool of 5 million eligible voters. The results underscored the Brotherhood's enduring grassroots appeal and reignited debate over the group's political footprint, as Jordan intensifies efforts to dismantle what officials describe as parallel structures that challenge state authority.
Al Bawaba
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Jordan bans activities of Muslim Brotherhood, considers it illegal association
ALBAWABA - Jordanian Minister of Interior Mazin Al-Farrayeh announced a ban on the activities of the so-called Muslim Brotherhood, designating it an illegal organization. The Minister also said in a press conference that any activity by the group, regardless of its nature, is considered a violation of the law and subject to legal accountability. "Membership in the so-called dissolved Muslim Brotherhood is prohibited," Al-Farrayeh added. Nonetheless, Jordan decided to close down all offices or headquarters used by the group, or even linked to them indirectly. The minister further warned that legal and necessary action will be taken against any individual or entity proven to be involved in criminal acts related to the declared cases or the dissolved group. The Minister explained that on the same night, the Jordanian security forces announced foiling a terror attempt against the country last week, the dissolved group attempted to smuggle and destroy large quantities of documents from its headquarters to conceal its suspicious activities and connections. The Minister of Interior also revealed that later, after the announcement of the cases targeting national security last week, the Jordanian forces also foiled an operation to manufacture and test explosives was uncovered by one of the sons of the dissolved group's leaders and others who intended to target security forces and sensitive sites within the Kingdom. Last week, Jordan confirmed the arrest of 16 suspects over plots to carry out attacks inside the country involving rockets and drones. In an official statement shared via the Jordanian government's X account, the General Intelligence Department confirmed that the suspects were involved in a series of security-related activities, which had been under close surveillance since 2021.
