Bills Introduced to Brand Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization

Bicameral legislation has been introduced to move toward the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Countries that already consider the Brotherhood a terrorist organization include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) introduced the House bill “to require the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress on the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.” The 21-page legislation runs through the history of the Brotherhood and cites their motto: ‘‘Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Qur’an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is ourhighest hope. [Allah is greater!]’’

“[Founder] Hassan al-Banna also taught that ‘it is the nature of Islam to dominate, not to be dominated’, and thus that the mission of Islam, as interpreted and executed by the Muslim Brotherhood, must be ‘to impose [Islamic] law on nations and to extend its power to the entire planet’. While al-Banna’s plan for accomplishing this mission was multifaceted, it centrally incorporated training for and the execution of violent jihad–terrorist operations.”

The bill notes that “in Muslim Brotherhood organizations and chapters throughout the world, including in the United States, al-Banna’s originating philosophy continues to be taught.”

It also stresses that the U.S. has recognized Brotherhood “elements” as FTOs, including Hamas, and leaders have been labeled Specially Designated Terrorists.

“The fact that the international Muslim Brotherhood engages in terrorism financing inside the United States was attested to in February 2011 by FBI Director Robert Mueller,” the text notes. “In the Holy Land Foundation prosecutions—the largest terrorism financing trial in United States history—Department of Justice officials successfully argued in court that the international Muslim Brotherhood and its United States affiliates had engaged in a wide-spread conspiracy to raise money and materially support the terrorist group Hamas.”

It highlights terror attacks in Egypt this year with the Muslim Brotherhood’s call for “long, uncompromising jihad” against the government.

If the bill passes — and makes it past President Obama — Secretary of State John Kerry would have 60 days to submit to Congress a report that indicates whether the Muslim Brotherhood meets criteria for FTO designation. If he finds that the Brotherhood aren’t terrorists, Kerry would have to give a “detailed justification” to Congress.

There are four original co-sponsors in the House: Reps. Diane Black (R-Tenn.), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas), and Randy Weber (R-Texas). It’s likely to gather significant support.

Diaz-Balart called the move “long overdue.”

“The Muslim Brotherhood has a long history of terrorism around the world. The group supports and stands behind numerous terrorist organizations that are responsible for acts of violence and aggression,” he said. “It is time for Congress and the Department of State to recognize and sanction them as they deserve – as a foreign terrorist organization.”

The upper chamber bill was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). It has no original co-sponsors.

“Now we can reject the fantasy that their parent institution is a political entity that is somehow separate from these violent activities,” Cruz said. “A number of our Muslim allies have taken this common-sense step, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. As this bill details, the Brotherhood’s stated goal is to wage violent jihad against its enemies, and our legislation is a reality check that the United States is on that list as well.”