Jordan's Alarm: Crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood

On April 23, 2025, Jordan's Interior Ministry announced a comprehensive ban on the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, escalating its previously cautious approach toward the Islamist organization. This development comes after Jordanian security forces apprehended 16 individuals allegedly involved in conspiracies against national security, which included plans for weapons and explosives manufacture, as well as the training of combatants both domestically and abroad.

Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh highlighted the connection of these plots to the Muslim Brotherhood, indicating that certain “elements” had operated covertly to challenge the nation's stability. Reports revealed that authorities uncovered a significant explosives manufacturing setup tied to a leader's son within the group. The Muslim Brotherhood's political offshoot, the Islamic Action Front, had previously gained 31 seats in Jordan's parliament, focusing its campaign on opposing Israeli actions in Gaza. Despite the crackdown, the implications for the party’s political future remain ambiguous.

This move marks a decisive shift in Jordan's policy towards the Brotherhood, following previous court rulings directed at dismantling its operational framework and the closure of its Amman headquarters in 2016. The ongoing developments reflect rising tensions within Jordan's socio-political landscape amid broader regional instability.