The U.S.’s Decision May Strengthen the Ikhwan

The United States’ designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization brings about some series concerns. This decision could create a tension in Turkey’s and Qatar’s relations with USA, as Turkey and Qatar are known with their support to the Muslim Brotherhood. It should also be kept in mind that the Muslim Brotherhood got stronger, and the movement became a global network by spreading over different countries even in the times of Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak when the movement was suppressed.

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee approved by a vote of 17-10 the bill which urges the US to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. There is a long process ahead for the decision to be finalized. The bill, called as the 'Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act', must be first passed in the General Council of the House of Representatives, and then it must be approved by the Senate. Finally, the bill must be submitted to the President for assent. If the required process is completed, then the bill will become a law. The bill, introduced by Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, strongly supported by Representative Bob Goodlatte, chairman of the committee, as he claimed that the Muslim Brotherhood is a “very real threat to American lives and national security of the United States”. 

In fact, the bill followed another attempt which had been made in this context. In March 2015, with the initiative of Republican Party presidential candidate Ted Cruz, the bill designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization was discussed in the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The Committee did not make any decision about the bill, however, on the same day Diaz-Balart’s bill, which has the same content, was also introduced to the Judiciary Committee, and the following steps were taken through this committee. 

There is no room for violation of rights by the regime

The bill includes statements like that the countries such as Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia declared the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, that the movement embraced terrorist activities when it was established and afterwards, and that the ideologues of the movement promote the ideology of violent jihad. Moreover, it is also claimed in the bill that the members of the Muslim Brotherhood joined violent demonstrations during the coup process in Egypt, and that the movement embraces violence as a method. 

It is remarkable that almost all the countries which are mentioned in the bill and which have declared the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization are oppressive authoritarian regimes. It is also striking that the human rights violations against the Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition groups in these countries were not mentioned in the bill. In this sense, the bill creates an absurd situation as it puts the USA in the same position with Russia and the Assad regime in Syria in terms of the issue of the Muslim Brotherhood. 

On the other hand, the advocates of the bill seem like they have disregarded human rights violations, frequently expressed by the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, conducted by Sisi administration that came to power via coup d’état in Egypt, and has fought against the Muslim Brotherhood since then. From this perspective, declaring the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization can be seen in the way that Washington encourages Sisi administration in Egypt to conduct a more intense campaign against the movement.

Both in Egypt and in the countries such as Libya and Syria where post-revolution unrest is continue, the Muslim Brotherhood have deprecated violence, and condemned the acts related to violence. The members of the movement by introducing civil initiatives in countries such as Qatar, Turkey, Britain, and the USA, have pointed out the human rights violations by the coup regime in Egypt, and they have expressed their demand for democracy. 

The Political background

It should be taken into consideration that the House of Representatives’ designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization has a political background. Moreover, the bill is remarkable for that it demonstrates that there is a campaign conducted by the US administration against democratic Islamic movements. When this attempt against the Muslim Brotherhood is considered with Donald Trump’s approach against Islam during his presidential campaign, and Ted Cruz’s comments on Muslim Brotherhood as he said “We have to stop pretending that the Brotherhood are not responsible for the terrorism they advocate and finance”, it can also be said that Islamophobia will be increasing gradually in the US politics 

This initiative against Ikhwan is not only related to the US politics but also related to the some countries in the Middle East that pursue a policy against the Muslim Brotherhood. The United Arab Emirates is the leading country that adopts this policy. The UAE administration, that perceives the Muslim Brotherhood as a political threat, is leading the campaign both in Middle East and global level against the movement. In this regard, Abu Dhabi wants Cairo to eliminate the Muslim Brotherhood in return for the financial support it gives to Sisi administration.

Threat to stop billion dollar arms deal 

Another process that sets an example for UAE’s opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood has experienced in Britain. In Britain where the Muslim Brotherhood is pretty active, UAE administration has pressed British government to take a stance against Ikhwan.  

When Mohamed Morsi, member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was elected as president in Egypt in 2012, the crown prince of the UAE, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wanted David Cameron to not support Morsi. In 2014, the UAE administration threatened to block billion dollar arms deals with the UK as the UK did not act against the Muslim Brotherhood.  Stepping back due to these threats, London released the long delayed report into the Muslim Brotherhood on December 2015. According to the report membership of the Ikhwan can be considered a “possible indicator of extremism”. 

As one of the countries that are against Ikhwan, Egypt, has developed relations with U.S, especially after the military coup. This development of Egypt-U.S. relations can be seen as another reason for the negative initiatives of Washington towards Ikhwan.  

It can be said that Cairo played a role in the decision taken in the U.S. regarding the bill designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization when it is considered that Diaz-Balart had met with lobbyists for the Sisi government at least nine times before he introduced his bill. 

A new tension with Turkey 

There are serious concerns about the enactment of the bill and the U.S.’s designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization although there is a long legislative process that the bill must go through before it is enacted into law. If the bill becomes a law it will create a tension in the Turkey’s and Qatar’s relations with the U.S. since Turkey and Qatar support the Muslim Brotherhood. When it is considered that Washington does not regard PYD as a terrorist organization despite all the demands from Turkey, it can be said that Turkey’s reaction to a possible Ikhwan decision taken by the U.S. will be harsh. On the other hand, it is clear that the Muslim Brotherhood will maintain its commitment to the use of peaceful means which it has historically embraced. Despite the political pressure it has been exposed to in Egypt, Ikhwan has explained on all occasions that it does not embrace violence as a method. Senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood have also emphasized that they will not resort the violence despite the pressure by Sisi regime. 

Having a strong global network despite the restrictions and barriers, the Muslim Brotherhood cannot be eliminated by the attempts of the countries such as the US, UK, or the UAE. In fact, the Muslim Brotherhood got stronger, and the movement has created a global network by spreading over different countries even in the times of Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak, in which the movement was under pressure. 

From this perspective, it can be said that the decision taken by the U.S. has a political aspect. Whether Washington’s political approach towards the Muslim Brotherhood will change or not will become clear after presidential elections. However, the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is a peaceful civil society movement, as a terrorist organization by the U.S. House of Representatives will be considered as an indicator of insincerity towards moderate and democratic movements in the Islamic World.