Jordan’s ban on the Muslim Brotherhood is no surprise but comes against a dangerous backdrop

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Jordan's ban on the Muslim Brotherhood is no surprise but comes against a dangerous backdrop

Jordan's ban on the Muslim Brotherhood is no surprise but comes against a dangerous backdrop
Expert comment
thilton.drupal
2 May 2025

The move to undermine the organization's growing appeal has precedent but is risky amid heightened tensions over Gaza and uncertain US policy.



Jordan's Ministry of Interior formally outlawed the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood on 23 April, declaring both membership of the organization and promotion of its ideology illegal.

Soon after, security forces raided premises associated with the group, acting in line with the new directive. The Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, has not been officially banned, though the authorities also carried out raids on its offices.

While the government's move against the Muslim Brotherhood is primarily a domestic issue and has historical precedent, its decision seems carefully calibrated against a difficult and uncertain international backdrop.

The Muslim Brotherhood had already been formally dissolved by Jordan's Court of Cassation in 2020, though few steps were taken to implement the measure. The government's latest decision is more consequential: it is an effort to dismantle the movement's residual influence in the kingdom and undermine its growing appeal among a population incensed by Israel's war in Gaza.
Alleged plot against the kingdom
The move comes after the government revealed an alleged plot  threatening national security, said to have been orchestrated by a group with close links to the Muslim Brotherhood.

In confessions aired on state television, several of the accused claimed that they had been recruited by the Muslim Brotherhood, though the organization denies any involvement. According to government officials, the plot was directed by a cell leader operating out of Lebanon and had involved manufacturing weapons and training militants with the intent of attacking targets in Jordan.

The move seems carefully calibrated and intended to stem rising popular support for the movement as the kingdom navigates a difficult regional backdrop.

The government's decision to clamp down on the Muslim Brotherhood marks another significant, if not wholly unexpected, episode in Jordan's complicated relationship with political Islam. It highlights the kingdom's growing unease with any form of Islamist mobilisation, especially at a time of regional change and uncertainty associated with US policy under President Trump .

It also signals the further tightening of Jordan's political environment. While the decision was motivated by domestic considerations, it will also likely be appreciated by the country's principal Gulf allies, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who have historically viewed the Muslim Brotherhood as a threat.
From loyal opposition to banned group
Historically, the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan has functioned as a loyal opposition rather than a revolutionary force, eschewing violence and working within political institutions.

In the past, the monarchy has preferred to contain and co-opt the Muslim Brotherhood rather than eradicate it altogether, fearing that radical groups might fill the vacuum. Its deep roots in civil society – through charities, professional associations, and welfare provision – have long made it an indispensable, if sometimes inconvenient, partner.

Historically, the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan has functioned as a loyal opposition rather than a revolutionary force.

However, the government has previously taken action to limit the Muslim Brotherhood's ability to mobilize political support. This has often coincided with periods of high regional tension that risk exacerbating domestic divisions in the kingdom. For example, the authorities have clamped down on the organization during previous conflicts between Israel and Palestinians or the war in Iraq.

In 2016, authorities shuttered the Brotherhood's headquarters , seized its assets, and transferred its properties to the Muslim Brotherhood Society (MBS) – a government-sanctioned offshoot comprised largely of East Bank Jordanians willing to renounce regional ties and focus solely on domestic issues. While the MBS was tolerated, the Muslim Brotherhood faced exclusion, which culminated in its legal dissolution four years later.


Source: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/05/jordans-ban-muslim-brotherhood-no-surprise-comes-against-dangerous-backdrop May 02, 2025, 10:31 AM