Skip to main content
WorldVoice 360
PoliticsMiddle East

Jordan's Government Bans Muslim Brotherhood Amid Rising Tensions

The decision may put an end to the Islamic Action Front, the country's key opposition party.

By Eve SampsonSource: nytimes.com1 min read
Jordan's Government Bans Muslim Brotherhood Amid Rising Tensions
Image via nytimes.com

In brief

Jordan's recent prohibition of the Muslim Brotherhood might reshape the political landscape, particularly impacting its largest opposition faction, the Islamic Action Front, amid accusations of potential attacks by the group.

Jordan's government has officially implemented a sweeping ban on the Muslim Brotherhood, citing concerns about the group's alleged plans for violent actions within the nation. This significant decision comes as a major blow to the Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the Brotherhood, which successfully secured representation in Parliament last year by campaigning against Israel's military actions in Gaza.The Muslim Brotherhood, a prominent Sunni Islamist organization established in 1928 by Egyptian schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna, has wielded substantial influence throughout the Middle East. Al-Banna's initial aim was to foster a religious revival that could empower Muslims against colonialism and Western intervention. Though often ambiguous about the framework of an Islamic government, his assassination in 1949 did not deter the movement's proliferation.Today, various political factions across the region either directly associate with or draw inspiration from the Brotherhood, ranging from groups that explicitly include the Brotherhood's name to those that function as their descendants or offshoots. As tensions continue to escalate in Jordan, these developments signal a potentially transformative period for the nation's opposition politics as the government navigates a fraught landscape encompassing both regional and domestic challenges.

Topics

More on this story