The Muslim Brotherhood organization is going through dangerous internal and external challenges, and it has reached a stage that may be the last in its existence. After more than 90 years of spreading its terrorist ideology, their era in the Middle East has come to an end, and even their safe havens are now out of reach.

Recently, the group has entered a critical stage and must search for a safe haven, especially with the Egyptian-Qatari-Turkish reconciliation that has put the Muslim Brotherhood in an unfavorable position, especially after Qatar and Turkey were informed of their departure from the country.

Abandoning the Muslim Brotherhood in Qatar

In 2022, the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, denied any affiliation between his country and the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood organization, stating that Qatar deals with states and governments, not political parties. He said, “We do not have such relations.”

The Qatari Emir also denied the presence of any Muslim Brotherhood members or affiliated individuals in Qatar, stating that they are a state that deals with legitimate states and governments, not political organizations.

He added, “We are an open country, and many different opinions come and go, but we are a country that does not deal with political parties.”

Abandoning the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey

After being the largest and most important safe haven for the Muslim Brotherhood, Turkey has recently taken measures that affect the group. Among these measures is the refusal to grant citizenship to some figures affiliated with the group, including controversial preacher Wadgy Ghoneim, who announced on June 2nd that the Turkish authorities informed him, before announcing the results of the presidential elections, that they rejected granting him Turkish citizenship or renewing his residency in the country.

At the same time, Ankara has halted the granting of citizenship to Muslim Brotherhood leaders at the moment, informing them that these measures are temporary due to the current political situation in Turkey and its efforts to normalize relations with Egypt and other Arab countries.

The Turkish authorities have requested that Muslim Brotherhood leaders refrain from engaging in any new activities without informing the Turkish side, and they have asked some leaders to stay out of the spotlight, especially since there are demands to extradite some leaders who have judicial sentences issued against them in Egypt to Cairo. However, the Turkish side has not agreed to this so far, citing that Turkish law prohibits the extradition of opposition figures wanted in their home countries.

Qatar and Turkey are the only two countries in the region that support the Muslim Brotherhood after the Egyptian army declared the removal of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi following mass protests against his rule. They have hosted a number of Muslim Brotherhood figures and leaders since the Egyptian authorities launched a harsh campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood, resulting in the killing of hundreds and the arrest of thousands of the group’s members and supporters during the protests.

Efforts at rapprochement

According to researcher Mustafa Hamza, the director of the Center for Political Islam Studies, the efforts of reconciliation between Doha and Cairo have put pressure on the group. Qatar has made several decisions to deport groups of Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members, as well as some individuals affiliated with the group who have been present in Qatari territory for years. The same is happening in Turkey currently.

Hamza added that the current safe haven for the group is in Africa, given the spread of other terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram, which increases the presence of Muslim Brotherhood cadres within other organizations and facilitates the laundering of the group’s funds.”