MB’s leaders fear over potential U.S decision to list them as terror

A state of controversy dominates the political scene not only in the Middle East but also in the U.S over American President Donald Trump’s intentions towards the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) in coincidence with the visit currently conducted by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to Washington which is the first of its kind since his ascent to the power in 2014.

 During his visit, President Sisi stressed his country’s keenness to take serious steps to support the U.S Administration to eliminate terrorism during the coming period. The American president, on his hand, agreed with this priority, saying, “We will do together.”

Leaders of Muslim Brotherhood (MB) expressed their fears over the visit conducted currently by Egypt’s President to Washington, as it coincided with the state of controversy dominating the U.S political arena over Trump’s intentions towards the nearly 90-year-old group. The position adopted by Trump against the group raises the fears of its leaders, as it could lead the other western countries to take the same approach and consequently isolating them.

Egyptian political expert Ahmed Ban said that the U.S Administration could take a decision to list Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group in coincidence with Sisi’s current visit, saying that such action would be knockdown against the group that ruled Egypt for only one year after January 25 uprising, as the it would lead the American authorities to expel from the American territories.

However, other experts believe that such a decision could not be issued during the current period, as it needs the congress’ approval. They believe that the American Administration still needs to assess the repercussions of such a decision on its interests during the coming period.

Former member of Muslim Brotherhood Mukhtar Nouh said that such a decision needs to be considered by the American Administration and Congress, stressing that the American decision towards the Muslim Brotherhood will determine the American position from the other Islamist groups in all over the region.

On the other hand, Sisi’s visit to Washington reflects a new page of relations between Egypt and the United States during the coming period. The visit is considered a blow against the Islamist group which strongly depended on the American political support provided by former U.S Administration led by Barak Obama.

Egyptian parliamentarian Yahia Al Kedwany said that the American support for the group under Obama’s Administration was one of the major points of strength that the group enjoyed during the recent years. He blamed the American policies adopted by Obama for the current state of instability dominating the Middle East.

However, he added, the new administration turns to take a different approach during the coming period, saying that President Trump adopted a clear position against the extremist groups in the Middle East, including the Muslim Brotherhood since his electoral campaign.