Jordan – Details Press
Jordanian Interior Minister Mazen Faraya announced on Wednesday the banning of all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Kingdom, describing it as an “illegal association.”
This decisive decision comes in the wake of the uncovering of alleged terrorist plots involving members of the group, according to Jordanian authorities.
Faraya emphasized that membership in the group or promoting its ideas has become a “crime punishable by law,” emphasizing the closure of any offices or headquarters used by the organization, even if they are shared with other entities. He also called for the expedited confiscation of the group’s assets through the competent dissolution committee.
The minister justified this measure by claiming that the group’s continued “practices” exposes Jordanian society to grave risks and threatens the lives of citizens. He accused the group of attempting to “smuggle and destroy large quantities of documents” from its headquarters with the aim of “concealing its suspicious activities and affiliations.” He also accused the group of attempting to manufacture explosives planned by the son of a Brotherhood leader to target “sensitive sites.” He pointed to the involvement of members of the group in “covert action” and “destabilization” by infiltrating the security system.
This ban comes about a week after Jordanian General Intelligence announced the thwarting of plots it said aimed to “undermine national security and sow chaos and sabotage” within the country. Sixteen individuals involved were arrested.
Investigations revealed cases related to the manufacture of missiles using local and imported tools, the possession of explosives and firearms, and the concealment of a ready-to-use missile. They also included a project to manufacture drones and recruit and train members inside and outside the Kingdom. A security investigation revealed the involvement of Ibrahim Mohammed, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, in leading a cell that began its activities in 2021 to carry out attacks.
Jordanian television aired a video report linking these plots to the Muslim Brotherhood, indicating that the initial idea to manufacture missiles was proposed by a member of the group.
It’s worth noting that Jordanian authorities announced last May that they had thwarted an attempt to smuggle weapons to a cell inside the kingdom, claiming that “militias” backed by an unnamed country were behind it. Hours after this announcement, Reuters quoted Jordanian sources as saying that the weapons had been smuggled from Syria by Iranian-backed militias and were intended for delivery to a Muslim Brotherhood cell in Jordan linked to the military wing of Hamas.
The decision sent a clear message of escalating the confrontation with any activity deemed a threat to Jordan, at a time of heightened tensions in the region. It also emphasized that “the security hand will reach anyone who tampers with stability,” according to Al-Faraya.
