U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday, August 12, that the U.S. government is currently undergoing the formal process of designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
Responding to a question about the group’s reported support for New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, Rubio said that the official designation process is lengthy and requires thorough investigation. However, he confirmed that necessary steps are actively being taken.
Rubio emphasized that the Muslim Brotherhood operates through various branches, each of which would need to be reviewed and designated separately. He added that Washington continuously evaluates organizations to determine whether they support terrorism or are themselves considered terrorist entities. Addressing the legal hurdles involved in imposing sanctions on the group, he stated: “These matters will be challenged in courts. Any group can claim it is not a terrorist organization.”
Just two days earlier, the U.S. had designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a terrorist group.
Founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood is one of the world’s largest Islamist movements. Its current leader is Saleh Abdulhaq, and it reportedly operates in over 70 countries.
The group’s stated goals include reviving Islamic values, reforming society and politics, and countering Western influence.
Previously, Jordan declared the Brotherhood illegal and seized its assets within the country.
