Name Change Decision: Assessing the Future of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Political Arm in Jordan
Jordanian authorities have taken decisive steps against the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been banned in the country, and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front party, most recently by requesting that it change its name.
An expert attributed the decision to a clear approach by Jordanian authorities to enforce the law, regulate party governance, and ensure compliance with the legislation of the Independent Election Commission, which prohibits the establishment of parties on sectarian or ethnic grounds or with religious connotations.
He affirmed that the party’s future has become more complex amid ongoing transformations, with indications of diminishing prospects for regaining its former influence, given its declining electoral appeal and the rise of political alternatives more aligned with current national priorities.
The Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan was dissolved by a judicial ruling issued in 2020 by the Court of Cassation, the country’s highest judicial authority. Since then, its activities have largely been represented by the Islamic Action Front, while the Brotherhood’s organizational structures have receded into the background.
Following a government decision issued last April, the group was definitively banned and its assets were confiscated.
The party at its weakest point
Jordanian political analyst Salah al-Abadi considers that the measure taken by the Board of Commissioners of the Independent Election Commission—requiring the Islamic Action Front to remove “any religious, sectarian, or ethnic connotations” from its name—falls within the Commission’s commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring governance standards, which require party bylaws to comply with legislation prohibiting parties based on sectarian, ethnic, or religious grounds.
Al-Abadi, head of the Opinion Center for Studies and Research, stated that “the Commission is keen to apply the law to everyone without exception, and that enforcing the law is unrelated to any political considerations.”
He expects the party to seek to adjust its position in light of recent developments to avoid potential measures against it, emphasizing that any delay or manipulation would be referred to the judiciary, which alone has the authority to dissolve parties in Jordan.
He noted that the party’s leadership has recently amended its internal regulations and responded swiftly to the Commission’s remarks out of concern over possible legal action.
According to him, the party is experiencing a significant internal crisis, particularly as its leadership previously presented it as the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. After the Brotherhood’s official ban by the Jordanian government, the party’s leadership distanced itself from that relationship, exposing clear contradictions.
He added that “legal and political constraints have led Brotherhood leaders to retreat from visible political engagement, reducing activities and public events, which has negatively affected the party’s popularity, now at its lowest level.”
Why the decision to change the name?
In a live broadcast on his Facebook page, former Director of the Media Commission and lawyer Tareq Abu Ragheb argued that the Independent Election Commission had been late in requesting the name change of the Islamic Action Front, citing what he described as “a clear legal violation in this matter.”
He stated that “changing the name constitutes protection of religion, not an infringement or distortion of it, contrary to claims circulating among party members or supporters.”
He emphasized that the fact that Islam is the official religion of the state does not justify retaining the party’s current name, as some party officials argue. The state, he explained, serves as a general umbrella for all citizens, whereas a party represents a specific ideological and political framework uniting members around a particular vision.
He stressed that the decision prevents granting preferential status to a party that claims to exclusively represent Jordanian Muslims, which would create unfair competition in a society deeply attached to Islam and confer exclusive legitimacy on one party over others.
He also highlighted the importance of safeguarding religion itself, noting that politics is inherently driven by shifting interests and that any party’s primary goal is to attain power. Religion, therefore, should be kept separate from such considerations, especially since the Jordanian Constitution already establishes Islam as the religion of the state.
Abu Ragheb revealed that the decision applies to all parties that have included the term “Islamic” in their names, a measure that should have been implemented long ago, with some parties also required to amend their statutes.
He concluded that adopting a victimhood narrative or portraying the issue as a popular cause suggesting the state seeks to diminish Islam is entirely unfounded and ultimately harmful to those parties, reiterating that “the law must be applied to all.”
History of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan
The Muslim Brotherhood first appeared in Jordan in the 1940s and was granted a government license the following year as a charitable association affiliated with the Egyptian Brotherhood. In 1953, it received a second license to operate as an Islamic religious organization.
In a cable written in August 2003, former U.S. Ambassador to Amman Edward Gnehm stated that “the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1945 as an extension of the Egyptian Brotherhood,” noting that the king allowed it to classify itself as an Islamic institution at a time when political parties were banned in Jordan.
According to the cable, this enabled the Brotherhood to develop its organizational structure and influence, while other political movements were forced to operate underground.
Over the past four decades, the group promoted its political beliefs by controlling professional associations, engaging in social activities, offering relatively modest welfare programs, and conducting media efforts.
A major turning point occurred in the early 1990s when it established its political party, the Islamic Action Front, and introduced figures perceived as moderate in an effort to broaden its social reach, as noted in the book The Hesitant Brotherhood.
However, this phase was short-lived, as internal divisions emerged, exacerbated by the rise of Hamas in Palestine, and persisted until the end of the 1990s.
Today, the Islamic movement in Jordan refers to both the Brotherhood and its political party, each with separate leadership structures but both subject to a Shura Council.
Over the decades, the Brotherhood has capitalized on issues sensitive to Jordanians, such as Israeli military operations in Gaza, to mobilize public support.
Moreover, it is reported to possess multiple funding channels. In a confidential diplomatic cable two decades ago, former U.S. Ambassador to Amman David Hale estimated that “the association’s institutions are valued at approximately $700 million,” providing a financial and institutional base for the Brotherhood and the Islamic Action Front.
