Protesters raise the Jordanian flag as well as flags of the Muslim Brotherhood, as they rally in support of Palestinians in Amman, Jordan, on January 27, 2023. KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP
The United States designated the Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan as terrorist organizations on Tuesday, January 13, fulfilling a long-standing demand of its Arab allies and US conservatives.
Founded in Egypt in 1928, the pan-Islamist movement once spread across the Arab world, but it has been in retreat as it comes under concerted pressure from major Arab powers.
"These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood chapters' violence and destabilization wherever it occurs," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. "The United States will use all available tools to deprive these Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism."
The designations mean that the US will block any of the Muslim Brotherhood's assets in the world's largest economy and criminalize transactions with its chapters. The move also severely impedes its members' ability to travel to the US.
