Amid allegations of muzzling dissent, Jordan bans Muslim Brotherhood and seizes assets

Jordan has imposed a comprehensive ban on the Muslim Brotherhood, citing links between some of its members and an alleged sabotage plot, in what marks a significant escalation of the country’s ongoing crackdown on political opposition.

The ban, announced by Interior Minister Mazin Fraya, includes the prohibition of all group activities, the confiscation of its assets, and restrictions on any publication or promotion of its ideology, Al Jazeera reported.

Authorities surrounded the Brotherhood’s headquarters in the capital on Wednesday and launched a search operation as part of the broader enforcement of the ban. Although the group has not yet issued a response, it has historically enjoyed legal status in Jordan and maintained strong grassroots support, particularly in urban areas where it operates dozens of offices.

The move also affects the Islamic Action Front (IAF), a political party affiliated with the Brotherhood that had gained prominence by winning the most parliamentary seats in last year’s election amid public outrage over Israel’s war on Gaza. However, the IAF has now publicly distanced itself from the banned group, asserting its intention to function as an independent political party operating within the framework of Jordanian law.

Jordan’s government has long had a complicated relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, having previously banned the organisation a decade ago while licensing a splinter faction and continuing to permit the IAF to function with some restrictions. It remains unclear whether the new measures will affect the IAF’s ability to operate, although officials have accused Brotherhood members of working clandestinely to undermine national stability.

According to the Interior Ministry, members of the dissolved group have been implicated in activities threatening national security, including an alleged attempt by a leader’s son to manufacture explosives targeting security forces. The announcement follows the recent arrest of 16 individuals accused of producing missiles, stockpiling weapons, and recruiting fighters, with the government linking them to unlicensed groups associated with the Brotherhood.

Officials have also tied a foiled 2024 plot to members of the group, citing their alleged involvement in destabilising activities while denying details on the identities of the suspects. Over the past two years, the government has imposed increasing limitations on the Brotherhood, arresting dissenters and barring several of the group’s public activities.

Despite the government’s assertion that it supports free speech that does not incite violence, international human rights organisations have criticised Jordan for using legal provisions to suppress political opposition and muzzle dissent.

The Brotherhood, which was founded in Egypt nearly a century ago and has chapters across the Muslim world, maintains that it has long renounced violence and pursues its goals through peaceful and democratic means. However, its critics, particularly in authoritarian regimes across the region, continue to regard it as a destabilising force.