Long-term Middle East radicals the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) had its Jordanian operation, the Islamic Action Front (ILF), cracked down on by the central authorities, according to reports. On Thursday, April 23rd, police moved against the Hamas-supporting outfit—who are also the main opposition party in Jordan—alleging a sabotage plot.
Interior Minister Mazen Fraya announced that all the group’s activities were now banned, including publishing its ‘ideology.’ This follows the reported arrest of 16 MB members, alleged to have trained in Lebanon and to be plotting rocket and drone attacks inside the Kingdom. The most that the MB will admit to is that members “in an individual capacity” may have smuggled arms to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Whatever the truth of the allegations—the ILF even denies having any connection to the Muslim Brotherhood—the widely supported movement has operated legally in Jordan for decades, unlike in many other Middle Eastern autocracies where it is already outlawed. While permanently shuttering ILF premises, Jordanian government claims that it tolerates freedom of speech—unless it incites violence.
