In the wake of a horrific antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, Senator Ted Cruz is leading a charge to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, a move that could reshape America’s approach to combating radical Islamic extremism.
Key Takeaways
- Senator Ted Cruz is pushing to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization following an antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, where the suspect expressed support for the group.
- A bipartisan coalition is forming around the issue, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressing support for the designation.
- The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act would require the administration to assess whether the group meets criteria for a foreign terrorist organization.
- Several countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, already classify the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
- Critics warn the designation could harm U.S. relationships with countries where the Brotherhood provides social services and has less radical elements.
Boulder Attack Sparks Renewed Push for Terrorist Designation
The recent antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado has reignited efforts to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the alleged perpetrator, reportedly expressed support for the Muslim Brotherhood and its former leader, Mohamed Morsi, prompting lawmakers to take action. This incident has become a rallying point for Senator Ted Cruz, who has been advocating for this designation for over a decade, seeing it as critical to national security in the face of what he describes as dangerous radical Islamist ideology spreading within American borders.
“The Muslim Brotherhood and the jihadists believe in using violence, using murder to force people to embrace their radical Islamist view,” Said Sen.Ted Cruz, highlighting his concerns about the organization’s fundamental ideology and methods.
Bipartisan Support Growing in Congress
Cruz plans to reintroduce a “modernized version” of the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act, which was first introduced in 2014 and has been reintroduced in subsequent congressional sessions. The legislation would require the administration to assess whether the Muslim Brotherhood meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization. Surprisingly, the effort is gaining bipartisan traction, with even Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz indicating potential support for the designation, expressing surprise that it hasn’t already happened.
“The Muslim Brotherhood used the Biden administration to consolidate and deepen their influence, but the Trump administration and Republican Congress can no longer afford to avoid the threat they pose to Americans and American national security.”
Representative Jared Moskowitz has also joined the push to “conduct a comprehensive investigation” into the Muslim Brotherhood’s activities. Meanwhile, Representative Randy Fine has gone further, suggesting that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) should also be designated as a terrorist group, claiming it serves as the “mouthpiece” of the Muslim Brotherhood in the United States. This expanding coalition demonstrates the growing concern about radical Islamic influence within America’s borders, Stated President Trump.
International Precedent and Domestic Impact
Several countries, including Bahrain, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, already designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Proponents of the U.S. designation argue that following suit would align America with these allies in combating extremism. Ahmad Sharawi from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies has emphasized the domestic impact of the Muslim Brotherhood’s ideology, highlighting how their influence has spread within the United States and potentially contributed to extremist violence.
“It’s clear that the link is there, and the dangers of the school of thought and this ideology have arrived in the United States, are impacting us domestically. We’re seeing more attacks under this ideology,” said Ahmad Sharawi, an expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Challenges and Concerns
Despite growing support, designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization faces significant challenges. U.S. law requires terrorist designations to be based on violent actions, not merely ideology or politics. Additionally, the Brotherhood manifests differently across various countries, with some branches focusing on social services and legitimate political activity rather than violence. Experts warn that a blanket designation could damage U.S. relationships with countries where the Brotherhood plays a more moderate role in society and governance.
“In some of these countries, the Muslim Brotherhood is part of the state structure. And so designating it as a terrorist organization would harm the relationship between the US and these countries.”
With Senator Cruz expecting support from President Trump and momentum building in Congress, this issue is likely to remain at the forefront of America’s counterterrorism and foreign policy debates. The question remains whether the administration will take this significant step toward confronting what many conservatives view as a dangerous ideological threat to American security and values, or whether diplomatic considerations will prevail in this complex geopolitical calculation.
