Following a deadly attack on a police headquarters, the military backed interim government of Egypt declared the Muslim Brotherhood a “terrorist organization.”  In the incident, a suicide bomber detonated a car filled with explosives killing 16 people and injuring more than 100 others.  According to Deputy Prime Minister Hossam Eissa, the declaration that the Brotherhood is a terrorist group will afford the authorities greater power to crack down on the group’s activities.  Mr Eissa made the following statement in response to the declaration, “Egypt was horrified from north to south by the hideous crime committed by the Muslim Brotherhood group.  This was in context of dangerous escalation to violence against Egypt and Egyptians and a clear declaration by the Muslim Brotherhood group that it still knows nothing but violence. He continued, “It’s not possible for Egypt the state nor Egypt the people to submit to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorism.”  In response to this action, the Muslim Brotherhood denied being responsible for the attack.  And in fact, an al Qaeda inspired group has claimed responsibility.

Muslim Brotherhood leader, Mohamed Morsi was forced from power after an uprising spurred by his perceived attempt to limit freedom’s guaranteed by the new Egyptian Constitution.  A ruling in September by the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters, banned the Brotherhood itself, as well as “any institution derived from or belonging to the Brotherhood” or “receiving financial support from it”.  Morsi has been ordered to stand trial on charges that he colluded with foreign militants in an elaborate plot to free prisoners and “spread chaos” during the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak.

The Muslim Brotherhood was established in 1928 and is comprised of a militant as well as a political wing.   It supposedly rejects violence and instead chooses to increase its influence by political activism and through charity.  It’s slogan is, “Islam is the solution.”