On Tuesday The White House stated that Trump Administration wants to designate Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. USA media states that this designation came out after Mr. Trump met with Mr. el-Sisi on 9 April. This decision can result in imposing economic and travel sanctions on members of Muslim Brotherhood and sanctioning people and companies doing business with the organization.
Society of the Muslim Brotherhood in the nutshell
Widely known as Muslim Brotherhood is a transnational Sunni-Islamist movement across the Middle East and the North Africa. The organization was founded in Egypt by Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna in 1928. Activities of the movement are not just limited to mosques, rather exist in broad social and economic spheres. The organization runs thousands of mosques, business enterprises, charity organizations and involves in civic and social activities promoting Islam. Several parties in Turkey, Qatar, Jordan and Tunisia have ties with it and regard themselves as a part of this brotherhood.
Members of this organization faced harsh crackdowns after the military coup led by Abdal Fettah al-Sisi against Egypt’s first democratically President Mohamed Mursi in 2013. He was elected for the position in 2012 and had affiliation with Muslim Brotherhood. Western countries did not give the expected reaction the coup but rather simply condemned the events. However, parties in countries such as in Turkey and expressed strong criticisms and called the West for taking action against the coup. After 2013, Egyptian Government has declared the organization as “terrorist” groups. Beside Egypt, the organization is banned in Syria, Russia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Reactions to the Trump Administration
However, the decision is not supported widely among government officials. The White House spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, said on Tuesday: “The president has consulted with his national security team and leaders in the region who share his concern, and this designation is working its way through the internal process.” Mr. Trump, Mike Pompeo Secretary of State, John R. Bolton, and the National Security Adviser stated obvious support for it, whereas the Pentagon, government officials and government officials are against this action. According to them, this decision can backfire and will lead to diplomatic crises especially with Turkey. American charity and humanitarian organizations are worried since this may further encourage el-Sisi to increase violence actions toward members of Muslim Brotherhood.
Will this decision come to action?
According to David D. Kirkpatrick, an international correspondent of the New York Times, the Muslim Brotherhood does not have criteria for labeling as a terrorist group as many experts agree on this. But his branches outside of Egypt such as Hamas that is involved in terrorism and The Us has already listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, he wrote that it isn't just simple for the Trump Administration list Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group. He must indicate supportable proves that Muslim Brotherhood really threats the US and its interests. There are millions of supporters of the organization Egypt, Turkey as well as in the USA and many Islamic charity organizations. How this decision proceeds to be effective is a good question. Beside reactions of countries which have an affiliation with Muslim Brotherhood raise concerns especially those of Turkey. This issue probably will be put on the table in the upcoming meeting that supposed to be held in July between Mr. Trump and Mr. Erdogan.
The Trump Administration and Egypt
The Donald Trump praise al-Sisi for counterterrorism actions and to restore diplomatic engagements. The US hasn't had an ambassador to Egypt since 2017. So this decision can be considered as a nice gesture to al-Sisi as he urged Mr. Trump to take actions. This can also mean Mr. Trump and further its strategic relations with Egypt, increase arms sales and foreign aids for policy reasons. As Egypt is an influential country in the North Africa and also maintains strong bilateral ties with countries in the region and the Middle East. As a result, strategic importance of Egypt is irreplaceable and openly declaring al-Sisi a “good man", despite his poor human right records may sign future deals.
Islam Mammadov
