The Egyptian government has officially declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group, after a deadly bombing Tuesday in Mansoura that killed 16 people and wounded over 100. The government has tied the Brotherhood with the attack, although the group denies involvement and Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, an Al-Qaeda linked group claimed responibility Wednesday.
This is just the latest of steps by the Egyptian government in its crackdown on opposition to the military controlled government. In July, the democratically elected (and Muslim Brotherhood backed) President Morsi was ousted in a military coup. The group and the government have been at odds with each other ever since, with the Brotherhood continuing to organize protests against the government.
Hossam Enissa, the minister of higher education and deputy prime minister announced the decision. According to BBC News, he stated, "This was in context of dangerous escalation to violence against Egypt and Egyptians and a clear declaration by the Muslim Brotherhood group that it still knows nothing but violence...It's not possible for Egypt the state nor Egypt the people to submit to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorism."
This recent decision follows arrests of Brotherhood leaders in Egypt and other moves to limit its movements. The Brotherhood remains unmoved by the announcement. As reported by the Washington Post, Ibrahim Elsayed, a member of the Freedom and Justice party (the Brotherhood's political group) declared "The protests are in the streets despite a law restricting them — and killings and prison sentences. All this has not changed the will of the people...The decision has no value for us and is only worth the paper it is written on." The Post also quoted another Brotherhood member Islam Tawqif, who mentioned the group is considering challenging the decision in either Egyptian or international courts.
Meanwhile, in Turkey, a Muslim Brotherhood radio station has finally found a home. The Jewish Press detailed that Rabba TV, a Brotherhood affiliated station went live on December 21st, with its first broadcast hosted by Egyptian Imam Yusuf al-Qarawadi, a spiritual and intellectual leader in the group, who recently resigned his position at Al-Azhar University. Qarawadi is known to support suicide bombings in Israel, and has openly supported terrorism.
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