Jordan bans activities of Muslim Brotherhood, closes offices: interior minister

AMMAN: Jordan has banned all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and closed its offices in the kingdom, the interior minister announced on Wednesday.

"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," said Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya, adding they would "close any offices or headquarters used by the group, even if they are in partnership with any other parties".

There was no immediate comment from the movement, which has operated legally in Jordan for decades and has widespread grass-roots support in major urban centres and scores of offices across the country.

Fraya said all the activities of the group would be banned and anyone promoting its ideology would be held accountable by law.

The ban includes publishing anything by the group and closure and confiscation of all its offices and property, he added.

Opponents of the Brotherhood, which is outlawed in most Arab countries, say it is a dangerous terrorist group which must be crushed. The movement says it publicly drenounced violence decades ago and pursues an Islamist vision using peaceful means.