The Argentine government has officially labeled the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist group founded in 1928, as a terrorist organization, following the U.S. policy towards the group, which has long been suspected of having terrorist ties throughout the Middle East and the Southern Cone nations.
On Wednesday, President Javier Milei declared the Lebanese, Egyptian, and Jordanian chapters of the organization as designated terrorist groups, providing the Argentine government additional powers in targeting the organization after incorporating the group into Argentina’s Public Registry of Persons and Entities Linked to Acts of Terrorism and their Financing (RePET).
An official statement from the Casa Rosada stated that the president issued the decree following extensive consultation with the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of Justice, and the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE).
“This measure strengthens mechanisms for the prevention, early detection, and punishment of terrorism and those who finance it, so that members of the Muslim Brotherhood and their allies cannot act freely”, read the statement.
Argentina has now officially joined a host of other nations that have previously designated the group as a terrorist organization, including the United States, Israel, Paraguay, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, reported the Buenos Aires Herald.
The move comes as tensions rise in the Middle East amid violent protests in Iran. For almost three weeks, anti-government demonstrators in Iran have taken to the streets to clash with government security forces.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a warning to the regime in Tehran, threatening the use of military force if the government continues to slaughter protesters. Some counts estimate that anywhere from 2,000-12,000 anti-government protesters have been killed by authorities.
The Milei government’s measure came one day after the Trump administration labeled the same three sub-chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist groups.
“The President of the Nation remains unwavering in his commitment to recognize terrorists for what they are,” said the Casa Rosada.
“This government is convinced that Argentina must realign itself with Western civilization, be respectful of individual rights and its institutions, while condemning and fighting head-on those who seek to destroy it.”
