UAE Fatwa Council designates Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation

Members of Egypt's banned Muslim Brotherhood are seen inside a glass dock during their trial in the capital Cairo in 2018. AFP

The UAE Fatwa Council on Monday denounced the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation and urged Muslims to steer clear of the group.

The statement came during an online meeting of the council led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah and supports a similar pronouncement by Saudi Arabia's Council of Senior Scholars.

The UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia have designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation. The group’s spiritual leader Yusuf Al Qaradawi is living in Qatar, despite being sentenced to life in prison in his native Egypt and being banned from France and the UK for his extremist views. The Muslim Brotherhood was formed in 1928 in Egypt.

The Council called on all Muslims to reject division and to refrain from affiliation or sympathy with groups that “work to divide the ranks and inflame discord and bloodshed”, UAE news agency WAM reported.

It reiterated that “it is not permissible to pledge allegiance to anyone other than the ruler,” and said the community should show “respect and commitment” to leaders.