Trump wants to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday launched a process that could designate some Muslim Brotherhood affiliates as foreign terrorist organizations and global terrorists.

The measure would impose sanctions on one of the oldest and most influential Islamist groups in the Arab world.

Trump signed an order authorizing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to prepare a report on the possible designation of Muslim Brotherhood affiliates in Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan as terrorists. They have 45 days to do so.

The administration accuses them of supporting attacks against Israel, US partners and aiding Hamas.

Republicans have long pushed for tougher action against this Islamist network. The Muslim Brotherhood originated in Egypt in the 1920s as a reaction to the spread of secular and nationalist ideas and has spread to several countries in the Middle East.

(reuters, sie)