US poised to designate Muslim Brotherhood as global terror organisation: major legal, financial fallout expected

Legal and diplomatic teams at the US State Department, in coordination with the department’s Office of the Legal Adviser, are evaluating an imminent decision that could designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a global terrorist organisation, according to a report published Monday.

Leaked information from Washington suggests that, if adopted, the designation would pave the way for precautionary measures, financial investigations, and prosecutions targeting individuals, business figures, and institutions suspected of links to the international Muslim Brotherhood network.

Sources indicate that the US Treasury Department is preparing expanded lists that may include the names of individuals, companies, associations, and entities believed to operate within frameworks connected to “political Islam.”

According to the report, an Arab country recently provided Washington with detailed intelligence files on Brotherhood-linked entities. These documents were transferred to a joint coordination office between the Treasury and State Departments, where they are undergoing legal and procedural review.

Any forthcoming decision could encompass active Islamic institutions and organisations in several Arab states, in addition to the Syrian branch of the movement. Analysts also note that the US may broaden the scope of designation to include charitable and economic fronts thought to be linked to the Brotherhood’s international operations.

The potential US move comes against a backdrop of growing regional and international pressure on the group. Several Arab governments have formally banned the Muslim Brotherhood or imposed severe restrictions since 2011. In Europe, scrutiny is intensifying—particularly in France—amid growing calls for a coordinated crackdown on organisations seen as using religion for political purposes.

These developments coincide with an international media campaign launched on 11 November and running through 24 November 2025, advocating the classification of the Muslim Brotherhood as an extremist organisation. Organisers of the campaign say they aim to raise European public awareness about what they describe as the “danger of extremist political-Islam groups” allegedly using community and charitable initiatives as cover for influence operations within European institutions.

Campaign leaders stress that such groups “do not represent Muslims or their values” and argue that their ideology contradicts Islamic principles of tolerance, mercy, and justice.

The ongoing efforts focus primarily on cutting off funding networks across Europe and the Middle East, including through sanctions, asset freezes, and increased financial oversight.