Latest news with #MazinAlFarrayeh
Arab News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Syrian leader heads to France in first European trip
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 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.' While the Brotherhood denied involvement, it admitted that some members may have engaged on individual capacity in arms smuggling. 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. The 2011 'Arab Spring' revolts marked another period of tense relations as the ascent of Islamist regimes to power in Egypt and Tunisia sparked alarm in Jordan. 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.
Arab News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Sisi: Greece, Egypt set to sign deal to boost ties
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 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.' While the Brotherhood denied involvement, it admitted that some members may have acted on individual capacity. 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. The 2011 'Arab Spring' revolts marked another period of tense relations as the ascent of Islamist regimes to power in Egypt and Tunisia sparked alarm in Jordan. 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.
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First Post
25-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Terrorism, sabotage and drones: The story of Muslim Brotherhood testing Jordan too far
In a big change for Jordan's politics at home and in the region, the Jordanian government officially banned the Muslim Brotherhood on April 23, 2025. This major step was announced by Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh. It came after years of rising tensions, security worries and trouble in the region. The ban includes taking away the group's property and stopping all their activities. Jordan says the group is a serious threat, accusing it of being involved in things like using drones, making explosives and getting help from other countries to cause problems. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The ban: Jordan sets a firm limit According to The New York Times, Jordan's Interior Ministry said the country could no longer ignore what the Brotherhood was doing. Minister Al Farrayeh said that some members of the group were secretly working against national security. This included using weapons, explosives and even advanced drone technology. Authorities also found a place where explosives were being made, linked to the son of a top Brotherhood leader. There were also efforts to destroy important documents that could link the group to these actions. This move is the result of years of worsening ties between the Jordanian government and the Muslim Brotherhood. The group has been active in Jordan since the 1940s. In the past, it was allowed to operate because it supported the monarchy and shared conservative values. But in recent years, Jordan's leaders have started to see the Brotherhood as a threat to the country's peace and stability. A long build-up to the ban Even though the April 2025 ban might seem sudden, it was actually the result of many steps taken over the years to shut down the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan. Back in 2016, the government closed the Brotherhood's main office in Amman. Then in 2020, the country's top court supported the government's decision to dissolve the group because it had not officially registered as a legal organisation. Still, the group's political branch, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), was allowed to keep working legally and even gained support. But things got more serious recently. The Washington Institute reported that 16 members of the Brotherhood were arrested for having explosives and building drones. Two of them were on the group's top leadership team. Their confessions suggested they were working with and getting money from foreign groups—possibly Hezbollah and Hamas. This showed a level of planning and danger that Jordan's government could no longer accept. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Brotherhood's shift toward radicalism Although the Muslim Brotherhood publicly said it was against violence many years ago, it has still been linked to militant actions in more recent times. Jordanian officials have long believed that some members were secretly involved in dangerous activities, even while the group spoke in a more moderate way in public. Reuters reported that some weapons found in Jordan this year were meant for use inside the country—not just to smuggle into the West Bank—and were connected to Brotherhood-linked groups that support Hamas. This connection to Hamas is a big problem for Jordan. Ghaith al-Omari from the Washington Institute pointed out that the Brotherhood often copies Hamas's language and organises protests where people wave Hamas flags. These protests, usually led by the Brotherhood, sometimes turn into clashes with the police, adding more pressure in a country already dealing with political tensions. Iran's suspected role worries Jordan One of the most worrying things for Jordan's security forces is the possible connection to Iran. In recent years, Iran and its allies—like Hezbollah and Hamas—have been growing stronger by smuggling weapons and spreading their ideas, especially to young people who feel left out or angry. Jordanian intelligence found plans to build drones and rockets and they suspect Iran might be involved, according to sources reported by Reuters. These actions match Iran's bigger goal: to surround Israel with threats and weaken pro-Western governments like Jordan's. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This isn't new. King Abdullah once warned that Iran wanted to build a 'Shi'ite crescent'—a group of powerful allies across West Asia. Even after the killing of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran kept pushing forward. And because Jordan helped the U.S. and Israel stop Iranian drones last year, it may now be more of a target. Trump's impact: More pressure on Jordan There's also a US angle to all this. Jordan's break with the Muslim Brotherhood also comes from its uneasy relationship with US President Donald Trump. As Jesse Marks wrote in Foreign Policy, Trump's plan to settle more Palestinian refugees in Jordan, as part of his West Asia peace deal caused a lot of concern in Amman. Jordan already has millions of Palestinian refugees and made it clear this idea was a red line. The Muslim Brotherhood took advantage of the public anger. They led big protests, calling the king a puppet of the West. Their message got even stronger as the conflict in Gaza grew worse. Many people became more upset about Jordan's ties to Israel and the US. By 2024, the Brotherhood's political party—the IAF—won 31 of the 138 seats in parliament. Their campaign focussed almost completely on being against Israel and against the government, according to The New York Times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What happens next to the IAF? The ban on the Muslim Brotherhood brings up important questions about the future of its political wing, the IAF. Even though the IAF is officially registered as a separate party, it shares many ideas and members with the Brotherhood. That makes it unclear whether the IAF will be allowed to keep operating. According to The Washington Institute, the IAF's strong performance in the 2024 elections surprised even Jordan's top intelligence agency. This showed that many people supported the party, especially because of anger over Gaza, corruption and joblessness.. The war in Gaza has clearly changed Jordan's political mood. Since over half of Jordan's population is of Palestinian origin, many people feel deeply connected to what's happening in Gaza. King Abdullah has tried to balance things—speaking out against Israeli attacks while still working with Israel on security matters. But it's getting harder to keep that balance as public anger grows. People are reacting strongly to the violence, images from the war and a feeling that their leaders are not doing enough. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Journalist Bassam Badari said that the gap between what the government says and what the people feel grew even wider after Jordan helped stop Iranian missiles headed toward Israel. After that, social media exploded with fake pictures of the king wrapped in the Israeli flag along with accusations that he had betrayed the Palestinian cause. The Brotherhood used this anger to its advantage, leading protests that made the king and government seem like they were helping the enemy and ignoring Palestinian suffering. A threat to the monarchy? The Brotherhood's defiance—combined with foreign entanglements and increased radicalism—has brought it into direct conflict with the core of Jordan's security apparatus. By allegedly crossing 'red lines' set by the palace, the group has turned from a political adversary into what is now treated as a national security threat. This was exemplified by King Abdullah's February speech to military veterans, in which he condemned unnamed actors for 'receiving orders from abroad'—a clear reference to the Brotherhood. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This deterioration in relations is not without precedent. The 1970 conflict known as Black September saw Jordanian forces battling Palestinian factions after the latter attempted to challenge the authority of the monarchy. While the current crisis has not escalated to that level, the parallels are concerning. As Jesse Marks points out, Jordan's stability cannot be taken for granted. A miscalculated crackdown or a spiralling public backlash could trigger a wider crisis. A precarious future Jordan's ban on the Muslim Brotherhood marks more than just a security clampdown—it is a statement of political intent in a kingdom that is increasingly under pressure from all sides. Internally, the move could inflame tensions with a population already reeling from economic hardship and war-induced trauma. Externally, it signals to Iran, Hamas and potentially the US administration that Jordan will not tolerate covert destabilisation or populist movements that flirt with terrorism. What happens next will depend on whether the Brotherhood chooses to fight back politically or quietly reorganise. For Jordan, the choices are equally fraught: clamp down too hard and risk backlash or show leniency and invite further defiance. Either way, the era of quiet coexistence with the Brotherhood appears to be over.
LBCI
23-04-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Jordan bans Muslim Brotherhood, seizes its assets and offices
Jordanian Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh said the country has decided to ban the Muslim Brotherhood and seize its assets after uncovering a sabotage plot linked to members of the group. Officials stated that the decision was made with immediate effect. Reuters
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Jordan cracks down on Muslim Brotherhood, confiscates assets
Jordan announced on Wednesday it is banning Muslim Brotherhood. Jordan on Wednesday announced that it would enforce a widespread ban on the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group that has been outlawed in several other Arab countries. Jordan banned the Muslim Brotherhood a decade ago but officially licensed a splinter group and continued to tolerate the Islamic Action Front while restricting some of its activities. It was not immediately clear how far the latest ban would go, Al Jazeera reported. Police surrounded the party's headquarters on Wednesday and were searching it in a pivotal moment for Jordan. The announcement came a week after Jordanian security services said that they had arrested 16 people accused of plotting threats to national security involving weapons, explosives and plans to manufacture drones and train combatants, both at home and abroad. The Jordanian interior minister, Mazin Al Farrayeh , suggested in a televised news conference on Wednesday that the plot was connected to the group, saying 'elements of the Muslim Brotherhood' had 'worked in darkness to carry out activities that undermine stability and tamper with security and national unity.' Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo He said explosives and weapons had been discovered and added that the night the plot was announced, the Muslim Brotherhood had 'tried to smuggle and destroy a large number of documents.' He also said authorities had discovered an explosives manufacturing operation connected to a son of one of the group's leaders. What is the Muslim Brotherhood? Which countries have already banned it? The Muslim Brotherhood is a transnational Sunni Islamist organization that originated in Egypt in 1928, founded by Hassan al-Banna. Its core mission has been to promote a society governed by Islamic principles, including the implementation of Sharia (Islamic law), through social reform, education, and, in some cases, political engagement. List of countries which have outlawed Muslim Brotherhood Egypt: Banned and declared a terrorist organization in 2013 after the ousting of Morsi. Saudi Arabia: Banned and designated a terrorist organization in 2014. United Arab Emirates: Banned and listed as a terrorist group. Russia: Designated as a terrorist organization. Syria: Banned since the 1960s; brutal crackdowns occurred in the 1980s. Bahrain: Banned, especially after links to political unrest. Israel: Banned and viewed as a hostile group. Austria: Took steps to ban activities linked to political Islam, including Brotherhood-affiliated groups. Germany: Not officially banned, but under surveillance due to concerns about extremism and anti-democratic activities. Legal or Semi-Tolerated (but monitored): Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, and Tunisia have Brotherhood-affiliated parties that participate in politics to varying degrees, although tensions and restrictions exist.
