Paraguay Places the Muslim Brotherhood on the Terror List
The Chairwoman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Paraguayan Congress, Deputy Lilian Samaniego, presented a draft resolution stating that the Muslim Brotherhood is a “terrorist group that threatens international security and stability, and constitutes a serious violation of the purposes and principles of the United Nations,” after discussions and approval by the permanent commission of the Congress.
The resolution, according to local media reports at the time, referred to the Muslim Brotherhood’s role in providing ideological assistance to those who use violence and threaten stability and security, which Paraguay rejects. Despite the lack of a clear presence of the Muslim Brotherhood there, scattered activities it has carried out since the late 1980s indicate that the decision was made to confront any possible extremist activities by the group in the future.
The decision comes shortly after a period during which Latin American countries worked to confront the activities of a number of extremist organizations, including the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Islamic State group. Some extremist groups in the continent’s countries, particularly Paraguay, are viewed with concern, as the US Treasury imposed sanctions on its former president, Horacio Cartes, due to his relationship with the Lebanese Hezbollah, while the Islamic Cultural Charity Center, located in the capital Asuncion, is considered a pivot point for the Brotherhood, and was founded in 1990. Another branch was established in the border city of Encarnacion not long ago, specifically on the border with Argentina.
The implications of classifying the Brotherhood as terrorist
Speaking about the significance of this designation, Emirati writer and analyst Mohamed Khalfan al-Souafi said, as a first point, that the designation from Parliament is an indication that societies before governments are beginning to narrow the Muslim Brotherhood organization. After confirming that it is a terrorist organization that is no less dangerous than other well-known organizations on the international scene, such as Daesh and the Lebanese Hezbollah, it is proof and evidence that these organizations, which had been betting a lot on the people as “incubators” who provide them protection and legitimacy in the continuation of their project, are the ones fighting them today to end this catastrophic project.
The second point is linked to geographical classification, al-Souafi said; The decision came from a country that is considered marginal in the Brotherhood’s choices, which means it is largely “besieged” in traditional arenas, such as Germany, which recently expelled them from its Muslim Council.
The Consequences of the Decision on the Brotherhood
Islam El Katatni, a researcher specializing in the affairs of extremist groups, said that the state’s move to approve this law will have many implications for the status of the Muslim Brotherhood in Latin America in general, noting that this step will open the door for other neighboring countries to take such a step, which is part of the pre-emptive and preventive measures against terrorism.
El Katatni said Paraguay would not have resorted to such a move unless it felt there were threats from the group; Even if it’s not announced. few Muslims exist on its territory; This does not mean that it may not be a destination for the Muslim Brotherhood, which is seeking to exist in distant places after the blows it received in past years.
International Movements
Several European countries have recently discussed the situation of the Muslim Brotherhood and its role in combating extremism, including Austria, Germany, and France, which has passed legislation to limit the group’s influence.
In this context, Mohamed Khalfan al-Souafi emphasizes that Paraguay’s parliamentary action tightens the noose on the Brotherhood’s global networks, which are expanding and including previously unexpected countries. He confirms that the crucial implication of this classification is that the awareness of the people and their representatives in global parliaments is the first line of defense in maintaining the stability of human societies, as these organizations are accustomed to infiltrating societies to spread their destructive ideas.
Islam El Katatni concludes that Paraguay is one of the countries concerned with confronting extremist movements early, having previously classified other groups such as “ISIS” and “Al-Qaeda” as terrorist groups, and predicts that this year will witness an increase in the pace of classifying the Brotherhood and besieging its influence in more countries around the world.
