Jordan Moves Toward Full Ban of Muslim Brotherhood Amid Weapon Cell Fallout
Government Tightens Legal Grip on Brotherhood Following Arrests and National Security Investigations.
Watan-Neither the Muslim Brotherhood nor the Jordanian government has officially announced “actual measures,” yet significant behind-the-scenes positioning is taking place, signaling a serious shift against one of Jordan’s most longstanding political groups. This follows the fallout from the “weapon manufacturing cell” case involving 16 defendants.
Some measures have entered a deep investigative phase, with authorities beginning to act, while the government stated that the Ministry of Interior will later release “more details.” This indicates the seriousness of official institutions in presenting a well-structured case that may, first, lead to the dismantling of the relationship between the Brotherhood and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front Party, and second, pave the way for a total ban on all activities of the Brotherhood, which authorities consider “unlicensed.” On Tuesday evening, constitutional expert Dr. Laith Nsawien described the group as “legally nonexistent,” based on a 2020 court ruling.
In practice, the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, known for its broad social and political presence, is aware that it now faces direct confrontation with the legal framework following new revelations about the manufacturing cell. The government has officially stated that most of the 16 suspects belong to the Brotherhood.
Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood Faces Legal Isolation Amid Security Crackdown
Communications between the authorities and Brotherhood-affiliated activists have been completely severed. Reports indicate that officials are not answering phone calls from MPs affiliated with the Islamic movement. Meanwhile, one individual responsible for communications has reportedly been detained.
The Brotherhood has not publicly disclosed that its financial accounts’ technical manager is under arrest and investigation. Nor has it announced that some of its headquarters are under security surveillance. A senior financial officer was detained for questioning and later released.
These developments — which neither side has transparently disclosed — indicate that the government is executing a comprehensive plan to dismantle the Brotherhood’s legal and operational presence. This could lead to the group being declared fully “banned,” with all activities prohibited, its offices taken over, and any public statements on its behalf considered affiliation with an “illegal organization.”
