Egypt Solidifies Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Permanently

Egypt has officially and permanently designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, superseding its previous temporary listing. The group was first declared a terrorist entity by Egypt in December 2013, following the military's removal of President Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Brotherhood, after widespread protests against his administration. This latest action formalizes the designation, altering the legal foundation and duration of the ban rather than introducing a new prohibition.

The decision, announced by the prosecutors’ office on Sunday, replaces a temporary listing that was issued in December 2022. The permanent inclusion is now established under Egypt’s 2015 law concerning terrorist entities and individuals. This designation prohibits the organization's activities, gatherings, and fundraising efforts, leading to the closure of its premises and the freezing of its assets.

In a related development, three individuals associated with the Muslim Brotherhood were also permanently added to a separate list of individual terrorists, following their convictions, as detailed in the published notice. These individuals will face sanctions including travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on holding public office. It is important to note that designating an organization and listing individuals are distinct legal processes; the Brotherhood's designation does not automatically implicate all its associates on the individual terrorist list.

The legal basis for this permanent listing stems from a Cairo Criminal Court judgment rendered in May 2023 and a ruling by the Court of Cassation in April of this year. The decision became effective upon its publication in the government's official legal gazette, Al-Waqa’i Al-Masriya, on November 8.

This development follows a similar move by the US Treasury in January, which designated the Egyptian and Jordanian branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The US cited accusations of providing material support to Hamas, resulting in the freezing of any assets held within US jurisdiction and a general prohibition on US citizens and companies engaging in transactions with them.