U.S. Congress Moves Closer to Designating Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organization

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The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy stated that Qatar is not only the Muslim Brotherhood’s main financier but also its supporter, host, and lifeline.

The Washington Free Beacon reported that efforts within the U.S. government are gaining momentum to officially designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization following President Donald Trump‘s Middle East tour, as members of Congress debate the group’s growing influence in the U.S.

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Stakeholders are working on finalizing the details of the decision, and sources familiar with the matter said lawmakers have multiple ways to financially cripple the Muslim Brotherhood.

These efforts recently gained traction in May when the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy held a closed-door briefing for Congressional staff focused on developing strategies to counter the growing threat of the Muslim Brotherhood in the U.S., according to a press release by the institute.

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The Brotherhood is already designated as a terrorist group by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Syria, and Bahrain. However, the U.S. has yet to take such a step, despite repeated attempts by Congress during Trump’s first term. At the time, officials from both the White House and Congress laid the groundwork to sanction the Brotherhood’s international branches, but no formal designation was made.

With Trump’s return to office and the GOP holding a narrow majority in Congress, insiders say a renewed attempt to label the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization is likely to garner broad Republican support. The initiative also enjoys key backing from Arab allies who already view the Brotherhood as a source of violent extremism — a topic raised during Trump’s visits to Gulf nations.

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A senior Republican congressional official specializing in Middle East and counterterrorism issues said: “The U.S. has several mechanisms for terrorist designation, each with different procedures. Congress may have to choose between options, but momentum is growing.”

He added: “President Trump had a very successful visit to the Middle East and listened to our allies’ concerns. Most of them view the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.”

An Arab official agreed, saying many Arab nations want the U.S. to take action against the Brotherhood.

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“Any Middle Eastern country that already classifies the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization would welcome a similar move from the United States.”

One possible route for the U.S. is to designate the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, which would result in sanctions on its leaders and the freezing of its assets. Another approach would be adding it to the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list, which carries similar financial penalties, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, has long advocated for tougher action against the Brotherhood. He told the paper: “Now is the right time to act.”

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Cruz said: “The Muslim Brotherhood uses political violence to achieve its goals and destabilize America’s allies, both domestically and abroad. Its Palestinian branch, Hamas, is a terrorist group responsible for the October 7th massacre — the deadliest one-day attack on Jews since the Holocaust — including the murder and kidnapping of dozens of Americans.”

He continued: “The Brotherhood has leveraged the Biden administration to expand and deepen its influence. But the Trump administration and Republican Congress can no longer afford to ignore the threat it poses to Americans and national security.”

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Republican Representative Ashley Hinson, who chairs the House Homeland Security Subcommittee, stated that Trump’s ongoing efforts to target Iran-linked terrorist factions could form the foundation to expand actions covering the Muslim Brotherhood’s global branches.

“The Brotherhood — or any terrorist organization — should be designated accordingly. I thank the Trump administration for defending the U.S. from adversaries and savage terrorists — something Biden has not prioritized. Peace through strength is back in the White House, and we must continue to project deterrence.”

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A 2023 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted that Hamas identified itself at its founding as “a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine.” Even though the Brotherhood’s Qatar branch was officially dissolved in 1999, its ideology, network, and influence remain prominent there, having developed a mutually beneficial relationship with the ruling family.

Charles Asher Small, executive director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, stated that the Brotherhood’s decades-long promotion of extremist, anti-Israel ideology contributed significantly to rising antisemitism following Hamas’ October 7th attack.

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He added: “The Muslim Brotherhood is backed and funded by the Qatari regime. Qatar is not only their main financier but also their sponsor, host, and lifeline.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan Schanzer — a former terrorism finance analyst and executive director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies — warned that any attempt to designate the Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization would likely face resistance in Washington.

“The Islamist lobby, backed by billions of dollars in Qatari soft power investments, will push back fiercely.”  “The issue may be tackled incrementally, with the most violent branches designated first. Over time, these classifications could lead to a broader, more comprehensive ban.”

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