Jordan’s Home Ministry said Wednesday it would implement a widespread ban on the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Muslim group banned in several other Arab countries.
The announcement comes a week after Jordanian security services said they had arrested 16 people who were accused of plotting threats to plans to manufacture weapons, explosives and combatants who would train drones both domestically and internationally.
Jordan’s Home Minister Mazin Al Farei said at a televised press conference on Wednesday that “elements of the Muslim Brotherhood” “worked in the dark to carry out activities that undermine security and national unity.”
He added that the Muslim Brotherhood “smuggled and attempted to destroy numerous documents” the night the explosives and weapons were discovered and the plot was announced. He also said authorities have discovered explosive manufacturing operations related to the son of the group leader.
Jordan had already taken steps to dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood in a 2020 court ruling, and in 2016 it had closed the headquarters of the group in Amman.
Brotherhood opponents argue it is a dangerous group that paves the way for religious extremism and violence. Like some scholars, supporters argue that authoritarian states in the Middle East are targeting groups.
It was not immediately clear how the new ban would affect the Islamic Front of Action, the political arm of the Jordanian Brotherhood. This won 31 of the 138 seats in last year’s parliamentary elections, forming a coalition opposed the central presence of Israel’s Gaza campaign.
On Wednesday, police officers surrounded the party’s headquarters. At a press conference, the party’s executive director Wael Saqqa said that members were surprised by the searches carried out by security authorities but were happy to open files and offices.
“I believe everything we do is followed the law,” he said.
Jordanian political analyst Amer Al Sabaileh called it “a crucial moment for Jordan.”
“My relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood has changed radically and will not return to what it was before,” he said. “By taking this clear stance, Jordan is working with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. All of these have adopted a hard-line approach to brotherhood.”
Murad Adire is a member of the 2024 Islamic Front of Action.
Murad Adaileh, a member of the Islamic Front of Action, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Muslim MP Musa Wash told Al Arabia’s television channel he does not believe the decision will affect political parties that “run independently” from brotherly love.
“The group’s approach is an unchanged, peaceful approach, and anyone who deviates from this approach will not remain in the group,” he said.
Wednesday’s government statement was a rare recognition of the instability of Jordan, an Arab monarchy that has worked closely with the United States on anti-terrorism, with American aid and long-standing peace treaties with neighbouring Israel.
With about half the Palestinian population, Jordan experienced frustration at the war in Gaza and the wider regional battles.
During last year’s election campaign, the Islamic Action Front also criticized the Jordanian government’s domestic policy, sought to capitalize on frustration over unemployment, corruption, poverty and other issues.
Ismaeel Naar contributed a report from Dubai.
