Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that Washington is actively pursuing the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, a move he described as “long and complex,” requiring a meticulous legal and evidentiary process.
Speaking in an interview with Sid and Friends in the Morning, Rubio stated that the State Department is currently reviewing the various branches and affiliated groups tied to the Muslim Brotherhood around the world. “We have to evaluate each branch individually, documenting the necessary evidence to ensure the decision can withstand judicial scrutiny,” Rubio said. “It’s like solving a math problem you have to show your work in court. We have to be extremely careful.”
The secretary acknowledged that the U.S. has not conducted such a detailed review of the Brotherhood’s global operations in many years, noting a backlog of missed assessments that the current administration is working to address. He stressed that the Brotherhood remains “a significant concern” for the United States, particularly in light of its suspected role in radicalizing political discourse and providing ideological support to extremist movements in various regions.
The renewed push follows the introduction of a bill last month by Republican Senator Ted Cruz, titled the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025. The legislation would expand the State Department’s authority to classify the organization and its affiliates as terrorist entities and require the department to publish a comprehensive list within 90 days of the law’s enactment.
Under the proposed designation, all financial transactions between U.S. citizens and the Brotherhood would be criminalized. In addition, any assets linked to the group within U.S. jurisdiction would be frozen. The move could also potentially lead to visa restrictions and increased surveillance of suspected members or supporters.
Critics of the Brotherhood argue that, beyond its overt political activities, the group has served as an incubator for more militant Islamist ideologies, influencing or spawning organizations like Hamas. While the Brotherhood officially renounces violence in many countries, its critics insist that its ideological framework fosters extremism.
However, the proposal is not without controversy. Some analysts warn that a blanket designation could complicate U.S. relations with countries where the Brotherhood plays a political role, either in opposition or as part of government coalitions such as Jordan, Tunisia, and historically in Egypt. Human rights organizations have also cautioned that labeling the group as a terrorist organization may serve to justify broad crackdowns on dissent across the Middle East, particularly by regimes that already classify the Brotherhood as a domestic threat.
The deliberations in Washington reflect a broader debate over how to balance national security interests with diplomatic realities. As Rubio indicated, any final decision would need to be legally airtight and internationally defensible.
With both political and legal implications at stake, the path toward a formal designation remains uncertain. Still, Rubio’s remarks signal a clear intent from the current administration to revisit and potentially redefine America’s stance toward one of the most influential Islamist movements in the modern era.
