Strengthening America Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a Terrorist Threat

In an era where radical Islamism threatens the core of Western democracy and Judeo-Christian principles, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) emerges as a significant challenge to American sovereignty and security. Founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna in Ismailia, Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) has evolved into a transnational Islamist movement, expanding its reach across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, with a particularly troubling influence in Sudan during Omar al-Bashir’s regime (1989–2019). This regime, underpinned by the MB’s SIM and NIF, is accused of harboring al-Qaeda, enabling attacks on US interests, and serving as a conduit for Iranian arms to Hamas, supported by the IRGC’s training and logistical efforts. This article addresses US policymakers and patriots, urging the designation of the MB as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Such a step would reinforce America’s commitment to countering the insidious spread of Sharia-driven extremism and protecting its people from global jihadist threats.

Origins and Ideological Foundations of the Muslim Brotherhood

The Muslim Brotherhood was established on March 22, 1928, in Ismailia, Egypt, by Hassan al-Banna, a schoolteacher and Islamic scholar, as a reaction to British colonial dominance and the secularization of Egyptian society. Al-Banna envisioned a revival of Islamic governance, promoting a global caliphate under Sharia law through a combination of social welfare programs, such as schools and hospitals, and political mobilization. The organization’s motto, “Allah is our objective; the Quran is our law; Jihad is our way; dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope,” reflects a dual commitment to peaceful outreach and militant struggle, a duality that has sparked intense debate (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2025). By the 1940s, the MB had swelled to 500,000 members, forming a secretive armed wing, the Special Apparatus, which carried out high-profile assassinations, including that of Egyptian Prime Minister Mahmud Fahmi Nokrashi in 1948. Although the MB publicly renounced violence in the 1970s under pressure from the Egyptian government, its ideological framework continued to inspire extremist offshoots, notably Hamas, a designated terrorist group, a point emphasized by Senator Cruz in his legislative push (Council on Foreign Relations, 2023).

Global Reach and Influence: A Widespread Network

The MB’s influence now spans over 70 countries, operating through a complex web of front organizations, charities, and political parties. In Europe, it functions under names like the Federation of Islamic Organizations, which critics, including Senator Cruz, accuse of infiltrating democratic institutions and spreading anti-Western propaganda. Its political engagements in Egypt and Jordan have led to widespread bans, reflecting a global consensus among certain governments about its extremist tendencies. These bans, however, have not eradicated the MB’s grassroots support, which continues to thrive in communities disillusioned with secular governance.

Countries with MB Activities

Countries Banning the MB

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Dominance in Sudan

The MB’s presence in Sudan took root in the 1940s, inspired by its Egyptian origins. The Islamic Liberation Movement, founded in 1949 under Hassan al-Turabi’s leadership, evolved into the SIM and NIF by 1976, laying the groundwork for the emergence of political Islam in the country. The NIF’s orchestration of Omar al-Bashir’s 1989 coup marked a turning point, establishing a regime that imposed Sharia law with authoritarian zeal and aligned with global Islamist networks (Chr. Michelsen Institute, 2019).

Sudanese Islamic Movement and National Islamic Front

The SIM adopted a top-down approach to Islamization, contrasting with the MB’s grassroots tactics in Egypt, by infiltrating Sudan’s military, judiciary, and educational institutions. The NIF, under Turabi, dominated the government until his 1999 fallout with Bashir, after which the SIM’s deep-state influence persisted, a development Senator Cruz has cited as evidence of the MB’s enduring threat (Chr. Michelsen Institute, 2019).

Sudanese Armed Forces and MB Connections

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, maintain historical and ongoing ties to the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), particularly evident during the 2023 civil war against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Military sources suggest that former NIF operatives continue to advise the SAF, with Egypt’s military support reflecting regional apprehension about a potential MB revival (Reuters, 2023). Cruz has leveraged this alliance to argue for a comprehensive strategy to “neutralize the Islamist threat” (Atlantic Council, 2023).

Sudan’s Strategic Alliance with Iran and Support for Hamas

During Bashir’s rule, Sudan forged a strategic partnership with Iran, involving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which established training camps and bases such as Kenana and Jebel Awliya to bolster Sudanese forces. This alliance facilitated the smuggling of Iranian arms to Hamas through Sudan, Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, and Gaza’s tunnel network, a process supported by the IRGC’s Quds Force, which also trained Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants in Iran (American Enterprise Institute, 2012; Al-Monitor, 2021; Australian Institute of International Affairs, 2015). The MB’s backing of Bashir’s regime created a permissive environment for these activities, indirectly tying it to international terrorism networks.

Terrorist Facilitation: The MB’s Role in Global Jihad

The MB’s influence in Sudan is believed to have indirectly supported terrorism by providing a haven for al-Qaeda from 1991 to 1996. During this time, Osama bin Laden planned and executed several high-profile attacks. These include:

• 1998 US Embassy Bombings: Simultaneous attacks in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, killed 224 people, including 12 Americans, leading to a $485 million US compensation deal with Sudan (New York Times, 2020).
• 2000 USS Cole Bombing: A suicide attack in Yemen’s Aden harbor killed 17 US sailors, with evidence suggesting Sudanese training of the perpetrators, resulting in a $30 million settlement (BBC News, 2020).

Additionally, Sudan’s role as a conduit for Iranian arms to Hamas, backed by the IRGC, further implicates the MB in supporting jihadist causes (Washington Institute, 2009). While the MB has not been directly linked to these operations, its ideological and political support for Bashir’s regime raises serious questions about its complicity.

US Foreign Policy: A Delicate Balance

A cautious and often contradictory approach has characterized US policy toward the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). The Obama administration’s engagement with Egypt’s MB-led government during the 2011–2013 Arab Spring, including support for Mohamed Morsi’s presidency, was met with fierce criticism from conservative circles, with Senator Cruz labeling it “a dangerous embrace of jihadists” (Council on Foreign Relations, 2023). After Morsi’s 2013 ouster, the US shifted its backing to Egypt’s military government but has avoided designating the MB as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), reflecting a strategic effort to maintain diplomatic ties with key allies. Proponents of designation, led by Cruz, argue that the MB’s links to al-Qaeda and Hamas necessitate a firm stance. At the same time, opponents, including Carnegie Endowment analysts, warn of alienating Muslim-majority nations and fueling domestic radicalization, a perspective Cruz dismisses as “weak-kneed appeasement” (Carnegie Endowment, 2019).

Congressional Campaign for Designation

Senator Ted Cruz has been a leading voice in the effort to designate the MB as an FTO since 2015, introducing the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act with reintroductions in 2017, 2020, and 2021. He has garnered support from Senators Orrin Hatch, James Inhofe, and Pat Roberts, as well as Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, forming a robust conservative coalition (Cruz, 2021; Hatch, 2017; Inhofe, 2017; Roberts, 2017; Diaz-Balart, 2021). On June 3, 2025, Cruz announced a modernized version of the bill on X, stating, “the Muslim Brotherhood used the Biden administration to consolidate and deepen their influence, but the Trump administration and Republican Congress can no longer afford to avoid the threat they pose to Americans and American national security” (Cruz, 2025). Critics, such as the Bridge Initiative, contend that the evidence against the MB is circumstantial. Still, Cruz counters that “the safety of our nation outweighs diplomatic niceties” (Bridge Initiative, 2021). This campaign reflects a broader conservative push to prioritize security over international consensus.

Conclusion: A Necessity for National Defense

The MB’s evolution from an Egyptian reform movement to a dominant force in Sudan, where it allegedly enabled al-Qaeda and Hamas, reveals a trajectory of radicalization that threatens American interests. Designating it as an FTO, as advocated by Senators Cruz, Hatch, Inhofe, Roberts, and Representative Diaz-Balart, would impose sanctions, disrupt its funding streams, and send a clear message against jihadism. While diplomatic risks and potential backlash from Muslim communities are valid concerns, the historical and ongoing evidence of the MB’s role in fostering terrorism demands an assertive response. As of June 13, 2025, with the current political climate favoring a Trump-led administration, this designation could mark a pivotal moment in reinforcing America’s security posture against global Islamist threats.