Legislation presented by US senators aims to label the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group
In a recent development, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has taken the lead in introducing legislation that aims to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025, introduced on July 16, 2025, seeks to officially recognise the Brotherhood as responsible for promoting radicalism and violence, linking it ideologically and organisationally to terrorist groups like Hamas.
Senator Cruz's bill is not alone in this endeavour. Correspondingly, Senate Bill S.2293 was introduced by Senator Cruz on July 15, 2025, requiring the President to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as an FTO and directing the Secretary of State to report to Congress on this designation. House Bill H.R.4397, introduced on the same day, shares similar objectives to require the President to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.
As of now, these legislative efforts are still under committee consideration and have not yet been enacted into law. The bills are in the early stages of the legislative process.
The call for the Muslim Brotherhood to be labelled as a terrorist entity is not new for Senator Cruz. He has previously accused the Brotherhood of funding Hamas and of being committed to the overthrow and destruction of America and other non-Islamist governments. Senator Tom Cotton has also stated that the Muslim Brotherhood preaches death to Israel, the United States, and other western governments, and that it poses an "acute threat" to US national security interests.
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in the 1920s, rose to power following the Arab uprisings of 2011 but was outlawed a few years later. The organisation has faced designation as a terrorist group by several countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.
With Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress and animosity towards Hamas high as Israel's war in Gaza continues, the chances of the bill passing may be increased. However, it is important to note that the main branch of the Muslim Brotherhood renounced violence as a means to achieve political change in the 1970s.
The legislative process may be expedited by introducing bills in both chambers of Congress at around the same time. This strategy has been employed in the current attempts, with Senator Cruz introducing bills in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
In addition to the U.S., other countries have taken action against the Muslim Brotherhood. Jordan banned the Muslim Brotherhood in April after an alleged armed plot against the kingdom. France has begun a crackdown on groups linked to the Muslim Brotherhood following an Interior Ministry report on political Islam's influence on French and European civil society.
This is the fifth time Senator Cruz has attempted to have the Muslim Brotherhood designated a terrorist organization. The future of these bills remains uncertain, but the ongoing efforts reflect a continued concern about the organisation's activities and influence.
- The Muslim Brotherhood, previously outlawed in several countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, is now facing potential designation as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, as Senator Ted Cruz has introduced legislation, the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025, to this effect.
- Senator Tom Cotton shares Senator Cruz's sentiments, asserting that the Muslim Brotherhood preaches death to Israel, the United States, and other Western governments, posing an "acute threat" to US national security interests.
- With the Republican party controlling both chambers of Congress and increased animosity towards Hamas as Israel's war in Gaza continues, the chances of the bill passing may be increased.
- The main branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, though, renounced violence as a means to achieve political change in the 1970s, a factor that may influence the outcome of the legislative process.
- Jordan has taken a similar stance, banning the Muslim Brotherhood following an alleged armed plot against the kingdom, while France has begun a crackdown on groups linked to the Muslim Brotherhood in response to the Interior Ministry report on political Islam's influence on French and European civil society.
- The ongoing efforts to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization by Senator Cruz and others reflect a persistent concern about the organization's activities and influence in the Middle East and world politics.
