Egyptian Politicians Laud U.S. Terrorist Designation of Muslim Brotherhood

CAIRO – 13 January 2026:  Egyptian parliamentarians and political leaders on Tuesday praised the Trump administration’s decision to designate the Muslim Brotherhood and its branches in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as terrorist organizations.

In various statements, officials said the designation delivers a severe "political blow" to the group’s agenda and exposes the falsehood of its long-standing efforts to portray itself as a reformist movement.

They emphasized that the decision represents international recognition that the Brotherhood has used religion as a cover to build a clandestine organization that relies on violence to undermine state institutions and spread chaos.

They added that Egypt was among the first nations to confront the group, noting that current events validate Egypt’s early approach to the organization.

Senate member Shaaban Raafat Abdel Latif said the next phase must involve coordinated international action to criminalize any entities or media platforms promoting the Brotherhood’s ideology, which he called a primary source of regional instability.

Taysir Matar, head of the Generation’s Will Party, called the U.S. designation a necessary step that reflects current realities.

"The Brotherhood has overstepped its political role and has become a threat to states and organizations, fueling extremism in the name of religion," Matar said. "Therefore, it was imperative to classify it as a terrorist organization."

Matar added that the decision supports global efforts to confront extremism and sends a clear message that the international community will not tolerate organizations that exploit religion for political goals that threaten national security.

Sahar Sidqi, a member of Parliament, called the State Department’s designation a crucial step in international efforts to combat terrorism. She noted that the move is an explicit acknowledgment of the group’s destructive nature and the acts of violence perpetrated by its members over many years.

In a press statement, Sidqi pointed out that since its inception, the group has relied on violence, incitement, and political unrest to achieve its goals. She said the designation strengthens Egyptian and international efforts to limit the group’s ability to finance operations and restricts its internal and external networks.

Engineer Yasser Qoura, vice president of the Wafd Party’s parliamentary bloc in the Senate, described the decision as international confirmation of the organization’s danger.

Qoura said the decision aligns with the ongoing efforts of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to combat terrorism since June 30, 2013. He noted that al-Sisi's firm stance eventually compelled other nations to recognize the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, reflecting the success of Egypt’s foreign policy.

The Trump administration labeled three Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations Tuesday, imposing sanctions on them and their members.

The Lebanese, Jordanian, and Egyptian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood pose a risk to the United States and American interests, according to the Treasury and State departments.

"These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood chapters’ violence and destabilization wherever it occurs," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press. "The United States will use all available tools to deprive these Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism."