The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928 in Egypt as a religious, social, and political organization, and has evolved over subsequent decades. It promotes moving away from secularism and returning to a governing system run by Islamic law. Although the group was previously engaged with operating under violent tactics to secure its objectives, it currently rejects the use of violence and seeks to be more involved in the mainstream political process.
Senator Ted Cruz’s “Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2015” bill and pressure from some public officials in the Trump administration to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” has generated both controversy and concern.
While proponents of the bill invoke national security, the many opponents of the measure believe that not only will it make America less safe, but it is an ongoing attempt to vilify Muslims, cripple Muslim American civil society, and feeds into the Islamophobia industry. Currently, there is not a central place where journalists, activists, policymakers, and scholars interested in this issue can go to learn more about the implications of this designation. Consequently, ISPU has created this landing page as a one-stop resource.
DISCLAIMER: ISPU does not endorse the views expressed on this page; rather, this collection is meant to help inform interested parties and present them with the varying existing arguments on the implications of such a designation.
What impact would the bill have on human rights and American Muslim organizations and mosques?
Calls to Ban the Muslim Brotherhood Aim to Criminalise US Muslim Dissent, Not Counter Terrorism by Sahar F. Aziz
Calling the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Group Would Make All Muslims Scapegoats by Arsalan Iftikhar
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by MPAC
Criminalizing the Muslim Brotherhood Helps Dictators and Hurts Americans by Engy Abdelkader
A terrorism label that would hurt more than help by The Washington Post Editorial Board
This is how the Trump administration could freeze out Muslims in America by Abigail Hauslohner
Threat of Muslim Brotherhood ban leaves community in fear by Ali Harb
How One Policy Change Could Wipe Out Muslim Civil Liberties by David Noriega
Muslim Civil Rights Groups Are Worried the White House Wants to Shut Them Down by Talal Ansari
Trump’s plan to declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terror group is about going after American Muslims by Sarah Harvard
Politicians, Anti-Muslim Leaders Urge Trump To Designate Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organization by Stephen Piggott
CAIR Reveals: Disgraced Islamophobic Former FBI Agent Drafted Original ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ Bill
If you thought Trump’s travel ban was bad, what he has planned next for American Muslims could be devastating by Shenaz Kermalli
“Civilization Jihad:” Debunking the Conspiracy Theory by Bridge Initiative Team
What is the political and historical context of this bill, and what effects will it have on Muslim majority countries?
The Denationalization of American Muslims by Peter Beinart
The Anatomy of a Terrorist Designation: The Muslim Brotherhood and International Terrorism by Engy Abdelkader
Trump Administration Debates Designating Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Group by Reuters
If Trump or Congress Decides the Muslim Brotherhood is a Terrorist Organization, Brace for the Blowback by Jillian Schwedler
CIA Memo: Designating Muslim Brotherhood Could ‘Fuel Extremism’ by Blake Hounshell and Nahal Toosi
All of Islam Isn’t the Enemy by The New York Times Editorial Board
The U.S. Can’t and Shouldn’t Label the Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorists by Daniel Larison
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization Is Bad for America by Emile Nakhleh
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization Would Make Americans Less Safe by Ken Gude
The Trump Administration’s Islamophobic Holy Grail by Lawrence Pintak
What are the constitutional issues surrounding this bill?
Why the United States Should Be as Circumspect as the British about the Muslim Brotherhood by Lorenzo Vidino
Briefing Paper on “Foreign Terrorist Organization” Designation Scheme by ACLU
Could President Trump Use the Treasury Department to Go After the Muslim Brotherhood? by Ed Stein
Should the Muslim Brotherhood be Designated a Terrorist Organization? by Benjamin Wittes
What Does it Mean to Designate the Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization? by Michael German and Faiza Patel
Terror Financing, Guilt by Association and the Paradigm of Prevention in the ‘War on Terror’ by David Cole
High Alert: The Government’s War on the Financing of Terrorism and Its Implication for Donors, Domestic Charitable Organizations, and Global Philanthropy by Nina J. Crimm
What is some basic background on this designation bill?
Ted Cruz’s Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Bill by Bridge Initiative Team
White House Weighs Terrorist Designation for Muslim Brotherhood by Peter Baker
Calling the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group would hurt all American Muslims by Arjun Singh Sethi
US: Don’t Target Muslim Brotherhood by Human Rights Watch
I Am a Member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Not a Terrorist by Gehad El-Haddad
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Question of Terrorism by Shadi Hamid
Don’t Put the Muslim Brotherhood on the Terrorist List by BloombergView Editorial Board
Ted Cruz vs. The Muslim Brotherhood Boogeyman by Christopher Mathias
Is the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood pushing the group toward violence? by Ammar Fayed
How an obscure U.S. policy effort could hurt American Muslims by Abigail Hauslohner
Who’s Afraid of the Muslim Brotherhood? How Hatred of Islam is Corrupting the American Soul by Khaled Abou El Fadl
What impact would the bill have on human rights and American Muslim organizations and mosques?
Calls to Ban the Muslim Brotherhood Aim to Criminalise US Muslim Dissent, Not Counter Terrorism by Sahar F. Aziz
Calling the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Group Would Make All Muslims Scapegoats by Arsalan Iftikhar
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by MPAC
Criminalizing the Muslim Brotherhood Helps Dictators and Hurts Americans by Engy Abdelkader
A terrorism label that would hurt more than help by The Washington Post Editorial Board
This is how the Trump administration could freeze out Muslims in America by Abigail Hauslohner
Threat of Muslim Brotherhood ban leaves community in fear by Ali Harb
How One Policy Change Could Wipe Out Muslim Civil Liberties by David Noriega
Muslim Civil Rights Groups Are Worried the White House Wants to Shut Them Down by Talal Ansari
Trump’s plan to declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terror group is about going after American Muslims by Sarah Harvard
Politicians, Anti-Muslim Leaders Urge Trump To Designate Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organization by Stephen Piggott
CAIR Reveals: Disgraced Islamophobic Former FBI Agent Drafted Original ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ Bill
If you thought Trump’s travel ban was bad, what he has planned next for American Muslims could be devastating by Shenaz Kermalli
“Civilization Jihad:” Debunking the Conspiracy Theory by Bridge Initiative Team
What is the political and historical context of this bill, and what effects will it have on Muslim majority countries?
The Denationalization of American Muslims by Peter Beinart
The Anatomy of a Terrorist Designation: The Muslim Brotherhood and International Terrorism by Engy Abdelkader
Trump Administration Debates Designating Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Group by Reuters
If Trump or Congress Decides the Muslim Brotherhood is a Terrorist Organization, Brace for the Blowback by Jillian Schwedler
CIA Memo: Designating Muslim Brotherhood Could ‘Fuel Extremism’ by Blake Hounshell and Nahal Toosi
All of Islam Isn’t the Enemy by The New York Times Editorial Board
The U.S. Can’t and Shouldn’t Label the Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorists by Daniel Larison
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization Is Bad for America by Emile Nakhleh
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization Would Make Americans Less Safe by Ken Gude
The Trump Administration’s Islamophobic Holy Grail by Lawrence Pintak
What are the constitutional issues surrounding this bill?
Why the United States Should Be as Circumspect as the British about the Muslim Brotherhood by Lorenzo Vidino
Briefing Paper on “Foreign Terrorist Organization” Designation Scheme by ACLU
Could President Trump Use the Treasury Department to Go After the Muslim Brotherhood? by Ed Stein
Should the Muslim Brotherhood be Designated a Terrorist Organization? by Benjamin Wittes
What Does it Mean to Designate the Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization? by Michael German and Faiza Patel
Terror Financing, Guilt by Association and the Paradigm of Prevention in the ‘War on Terror’ by David Cole
High Alert: The Government’s War on the Financing of Terrorism and Its Implication for Donors, Domestic Charitable Organizations, and Global Philanthropy by Nina J. Crimm
What is some basic background on this designation bill?
Ted Cruz’s Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Bill by Bridge Initiative Team
White House Weighs Terrorist Designation for Muslim Brotherhood by Peter Baker
Calling the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group would hurt all American Muslims by Arjun Singh Sethi
US: Don’t Target Muslim Brotherhood by Human Rights Watch
I Am a Member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Not a Terrorist by Gehad El-Haddad
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Question of Terrorism by Shadi Hamid
Don’t Put the Muslim Brotherhood on the Terrorist List by BloombergView Editorial Board
Ted Cruz vs. The Muslim Brotherhood Boogeyman by Christopher Mathias
Is the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood pushing the group toward violence? by Ammar Fayed
How an obscure U.S. policy effort could hurt American Muslims by Abigail Hauslohner
Who’s Afraid of the Muslim Brotherhood? How Hatred of Islam is Corrupting the American Soul by Khaled Abou El Fadl