Bill to Designate This Muslim Group a Terrorist Organization Gains Momentum

Momentum is building behind a bill that would designate the Muslim Brotherhood as an Islamist terrorist organization.

The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2015, authored by U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), was approved by the House Judiciary Committee by a 17-10 vote. The number of co-sponsors of the bill has doubled since its introduction, and reports suggest the bill is widely supported by the House Republican Conference.

Most of the bill is a summary of the terrorist acts the Muslim Brotherhood was directly or closely involved in. It includes a “sense of Congress” statement that said:

• the Muslim Brotherhood meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and
• the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, should exercise the Secretary of State’s statutory authority by designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.

It requires, within 60 days after the date of the bill becomes law, that the secretary of state, “in consultation with the intelligence community,” submit a detailed report to the “appropriate congressional committees.” That report must determine whether or not the Muslim Brotherhood meets the criteria for a terrorist designation.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. It has been referred to the Foreign Relations Committee.