14/01/2026
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14/01/2026
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WASHINGTON, Jan 14: The United States government took a major foreign policy step by designating the branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations under U.S. counterterrorism law. The decision, announced jointly by the U.S. State Department and the Treasury Department, marks a significant escalation in Washington’s efforts to curb what it describes as the group’s involvement in violence and regional destabilization.
According to the official statements, the Egyptian and Jordanian branches of the Muslim Brotherhood have been listed as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under an executive order, while the Lebanese branch — also known as al-Jamaa al-Islamiya — has been designated both as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The Lebanese Brotherhood’s Secretary-General, Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh, was also individually blacklisted.
U.S. Government Rationale
U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, said the designations reflect a “sustained effort” to prevent the Muslim Brotherhood chapters from engaging in or supporting activities that the U.S. believes contribute to terrorism and instability. The Treasury Department’s announcement accused these branches of providing material support to militant groups, particularly Hamas, which itself is widely designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other Western governments.
The official U.S. press release explains that although the Brotherhood often presents itself as a civic and political organization, behind the scenes some affiliates have allegedly facilitated support for extremist violence, recruiting, funding, and cooperating with armed factions in the region.
Legal and Practical Effects
Under U.S. law, the designation of an organization as a Foreign Terrorist Organization or as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist carries significant consequences. It becomes a crime for individuals and entities to provide material support to the listed groups, their assets under U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and members can face immigration restrictions including bans on entering the United States
Background and Broader Context
The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt in 1928 as an Islamic socio-political movement and has since developed chapters and affiliates across the Middle East and beyond. Its ideology has influenced a broad spectrum of groups, from political parties to militant organizations. Notably, Hamas — the governing authority in Gaza — has ideological roots in the Brotherhood and is cited by U.S. officials as one reason for the recent designations.
In recent years, Brotherhood branches have operated under varying legal statuses: for example, the group has been banned in Egypt since 2013 following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi, who came from the Brotherhood’s ranks, and the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood was officially dissolved by a court in 2020. In Lebanon, the Brotherhood operates a political party with representation in parliament but has also faced scrutiny from security services.
International Reactions
The move fulfills long-standing requests from several U.S. allies in the Gulf, including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, which have previously classified the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization themselves. Cairo welcomed the U.S. announcement, stating it reflects the danger posed by the group’s ideology and its perceived threat to regional security and stability.
However, the designation could complicate diplomatic relations with countries that have historically tolerated or supported the Brotherhood’s activities, such as Turkey and Qatar, where the movement has maintained some level of political engagement. Analysts also note that the decision may impact immigration and asylum assessments and could reverberate across regional geopolitics.
