Jordan has officially banned all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered the closure of its offices across the kingdom, the Jordanian interior minister said on Wednesday.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya stated, "It has been decided to ban all activities of the so-called Muslim Brotherhood and to consider any activity (carried out by it) a violation of the provisions of the law."

He added that authorities would "close any offices or headquarters used by the group, even if they are in partnership with any other parties."

Jordan foils 'subversive plots' 

Jordan’s General Intelligence Department (GID) announced earlier in April that it had thwarted what it described as "a series of dangerous plots aimed at destabilizing the kingdom, inciting chaos, and causing material destruction". Officials claimed it was a carefully monitored operation that had been underway since 2021.

According to the GID, sixteen individuals belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood suspected of involvement in the plans have been arrested. The group allegedly worked on manufacturing rockets using both locally sourced tools and smuggled components as part of illegal activities, posing a serious threat to national security.

The investigation also claimed to have uncovered explosive materials, firearms, and a fully assembled rocket ready for use. Authorities revealed that the suspects had also developed an integrated project for building unmanned aerial vehicles.

Trained specially abroad

Jordanian media, citing official sources, reported that the suspects sought to recruit and train individuals within the country, and some members were even sent abroad to receive specialized training.

Read next: Hamas denies Jordan's sabotage plots

The intelligence agency said that all case files had been transferred to the State Security Court to proceed with legal action against those involved. The GID emphasized what it described as the kingdom’s high level of vigilance and readiness to preserve national stability and ensure the safety of its citizens.

Government spokesperson and Minister of Government Communication Mohammad al-Momani stated that the plots involved four separate groups, each tasked with carrying out sabotage operations. He also claimed the arrested received training in Lebanon.

The first cell, composed of three key members, was apprehended between May and June 2023. Authorities say they were involved in transporting and storing high-grade explosives.