In brief
On April 23, 2025, Jordan's Interior Ministry announced a comprehensive ban on the Muslim Brotherhood, amplifying steps previously taken against the Islamist group. This decisive action comes on the heels of a recent security operation in which 16 individuals were arrested amid allegations of plotting to undermine national security through weapons, explosives, and other threats. Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh, in a televised press conference, indicated a connection between these alleged threats and elements of the Brotherhood, asserting that the group had acted covertly to compromise national stability and security.
In his statements, Al Farrayeh noted that authorities had uncovered explosives and weapons, with discoveries including an operation related to a son of one of the Brotherhood's leaders. The announcement marks a continuation of Jordan's efforts to suppress the group, which had previously faced significant restrictions. A court ruling in 2020 aimed to disband the Brotherhood, and its headquarters in Amman were closed in 2016.The implications of the new ban on the Islamic Action Front— the political wing of the Brotherhood— are currently uncertain. The party had recently made headlines after securing 31 out of 138 parliamentary seats in the last elections, during which opposition to Israeli military actions in Gaza formed a crucial part of its campaign agenda. The forthcoming developments are anticipated to challenge the group's influence and operations within the national political landscape.
