WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Trump administration labeled three Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations on Tuesday, imposing sanctions on them and their members.
The Lebanese, Jordanian and Egyptian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood pose a risk to the United States and American interests, according to the Treasury and State departments.
“These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood chapters’ violence and destabilization wherever it occurs,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press. “The United States will use all available tools to deprive these Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism.”
The Jordanian and Egyptian branches were designated by the Treasury as specifically designated global terrorists for providing support to Hamas. The Lebanese branch was labeled a foreign terrorist organization, which is the most severe, meaning it is a criminal offense to provide material support to the group.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in November directing Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to begin the process of designating certain chapters of the organization as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
Egypt — the organization’s birthplace — banned the Muslim Brotherhood years ago, labeling it a terrorist group after a period of violent unrest. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also outlawed the movement, calling it a driver of extremism and a threat to national security.
Florida and Texas designated the group as a terrorist organization last year.
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CAIR responded by filing a lawsuit and rejecting the claims. In a statement, CAIR-Texas said, “Mr. Abbott is defaming us and other American Muslims because we are effective advocates for justice here and abroad.”
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