In brief
In a dramatic escalation of state intervention, Jordanian officials declared the outlawing of the Muslim Brotherhood's activities on April 23, 2025, amidst ongoing security threats linked to the group.
Jordan's Interior Ministry conveyed the decision on Wednesday, aligning with previous efforts to curb the Islamist group's influence, which had already seen legal actions since 2020. Recent developments heightened these tensions, as Jordanian security services reported the arrest of 16 individuals suspected of planning attacks. The Interior Minister, Mazin Al Farrayeh, indicated in a televised press conference that these actions were connected to the Brotherhood, alleging its members had engaged in clandestine operations to jeopardize national stability. Authorities reported discovering explosive materials and an operation aimed at manufacturing explosives associated with a prominent leader’s son, while documents related to such activities were reportedly being handled by the group. The Jordanian government's intensified crackdown included a 2020 court ruling which had previously moved towards dissolving the Brotherhood. In 2016, its headquarters in Amman was also closed. The ramifications of the recent ban for the Islamic Action Front, the political entity representing the Brotherhood and a significant player in prior parliamentary elections, remain uncertain, particularly given its recent coalition efforts that opposed Israeli actions in Gaza.
