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Jordan Bans Muslim Brotherhood Over Alleged Terror Plot Links
Jordan’s government has officially banned the Muslim Brotherhood, Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya announced on Wednesday, citing national security concerns tied to alleged plans for rocket and drone attacks.
The move comes a week after Jordan’s intelligence agency said it arrested 16 individuals linked to a suspected terror plot targeting key infrastructure and public safety.
Speaking at a press conference, Faraya declared that all Brotherhood offices in the country would be closed, their assets seized, and any further activities deemed illegal. He accused the group of operating “in the shadows” and engaging in actions that could “undermine stability and security.”
Authorities reportedly uncovered covert rocket manufacturing facilities, explosive devices, and weapons hidden in residential areas. They also claimed that Brotherhood members attempted to destroy sensitive documents ahead of the crackdown.
The Muslim Brotherhood has denied any involvement in the alleged plots. It also reiterated its commitment to peaceful political engagement. There has been no formal statement from the group following the government’s sweeping ban.
The ban’s implications for the Brotherhood’s political wing, the Islamic Action Front (IAF)—Jordan’s largest parliamentary opposition party—remain unclear. Police raided the IAF’s headquarters shortly after the ban was announced. However, IAF Secretary General Wael Saqqa defended the party’s independence, saying it had “no relationship with any other organizational body.”
“We always declare that we are committed to order, the law, and the provisions of the constitution,” Saqqa added.
The Brotherhood’s legal status has been a source of contention in Jordan for years. In 2020, the country’s top court ruled that the organization was “dissolved” for failing to legalize its operations. Despite that ruling, the group continued to function, and the IAF went on to win 31 seats in the 138-member parliament during the last elections.
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded nearly a century ago in Egypt, has long sought the establishment of Islamic governance through Sharia law. It is currently outlawed in several Arab countries, where governments consider it a destabilizing force.
