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Designating Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organization Serves Interests of Muslims
(Al Arabiya) Mamdouh AlMuhaini - The Trump administration's plan to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization serves the interests of Muslims. The designation would weaken the Brotherhood's influence over Muslim communities in the U.S. and Europe. It would give Muslims a chance to practice their faith without the heavy political injection the Brotherhood adds to religion. Many Islamic centers and associations in America and the West promote political Islam rather than the true essence of the faith. Their goal is to produce ideological cadres rather than upright believers. They create intellectual barriers between Muslims and the American and European societies they live in. We have seen extremist individuals emerge from these communities and later join militant groups. Weakening the Muslim Brotherhood would open space for ideas of tolerance and religious moderation to grow and spread. It would reduce the spread of destructive hatred. We know that violent movements trace their roots to Brotherhood-influenced ideology. This is something Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states understood long ago when they designated the Brotherhood. Their influence harms minds and blocks progress using religious arguments that are, in reality, motivated by a desire for power. I agree with those who say Islam has been hijacked. The hands of Bin Laden, Baghdadi, Soleimani, and Zarqawi are stained with the blood of innocent people. The majority of terrorism's victims are Muslims. The writer is General Manager of Al Arabiya and Al Hadath.