Donald Trump seeks to designate Muslim Brotherhood as terror group

President Trump reportedly backed the idea after meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

American President Trump has sought to officially label the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. The Muslim Brotherhood, which denies allegations of terrorism and insists that it supports Democracy, has been designated a terrorist organization by countries such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Such a designation imposes wide-ranging economic and travel sanctions on companies and individuals who interact with the targeted group. Trump had earlier responded affirmatively to Egypt president Mr. el-Sisi, saying it would make sense.

The White House press secretary acknowledged that the administration was working on designating the Muslim Brotherhood terrorists. "The president has consulted with his national security team and leaders in the region who share his concern, and this designation is working its way through the internal process," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in an email.

One of the oldest and most influential Islamic movements in the world, the Brotherhood was declared a "terror group" by Egypt in 2013 after El-Sisi led a military coup against Mohamed Morsi, a Brotherhood member and the country's first democratically-elected president. The Muslim Brotherhood is one of Islam's most influential political movements with millions of members across the world.

Meanwhile, Human Rights groups in the country have slammed the decision. They have voiced concerns that el-Sisi might use it to justify an even harsher crackdown against his opponents.

"By calling for the entire group to be designated as a terrorist organization, the Trump administration is making an extraordinarily broad policy determination that will harm the participation of Muslim groups in democratic processes." said a prominent rights official.

The supporters of the Brotherhood make up the US Islamic community's most organised force by running hundreds of mosques and business ventures, promoting civic activities, and setting up American Islamic organisations to defend and promote Islam. Some Americans and groups also have ties to the Brotherhood, potentially putting all of them in a dire legal situation if the organization gets designated as a terror group.