Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Brotherhood in Jordan Ends its Boycott for Dialogue U.S. Administration | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Islamic Action Front party chief Mohamed Zyoud, center, his deputy Ali Abu al-Sukkar, left, and party spokesman Murad Adayleh. Photo: Khalil Mazraawi/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images


Amman – Ali Saleh Abu Sukkar, Sec-Gen Islamic Action Front (IAF) – Jordan, announced that it had decided to end its boycott for the dialogue with U.S. administration which began in 2003 following the invasion of Iraq.

Sec-Gen of IAF, the political body of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the U.S. withdrew from Iraq and things are different now, thus there is no reason to continue with the boycott.

Abu Sukkar said the new decision doesn’t mean that the Islamic Movement agrees with the U.S. policies in the region.

“This decision was made along with the decision to participate in the parliamentary elections of September 2016,” he explained.

When asked about meeting or holding talks with the U.S. administration, Abu Sukkar confirmed that so far there is nothing to talk about, yet he said that he did attend a seminar organized by Assabeel where the Cultural and Media Advisor at the U.S. Embassy Ragaina Goata was also present. He added that if they were invited to hold talks with the U.S., there is nothing to prevent it.

This is the first announced official meeting between the Brotherhood and U.S. officials.

Abu Sukkar stressed that they support any negotiation that could serve the country, except those with the Zionist entity.

According to the sec-gen, there are three main reasons that led the movement to end its boycott: U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, a respond to aggressive statement against Islam, and the importance of holding direct talks without a facilitator or a middleman.

The Brotherhood’s decision coincides with the U.S. Congress’ Judicial Committee enlisting the Muslim Brotherhood on the list of Terrorist Organizations.

In September, Jordan held its parliamentary elections where the Islamic movement won 15 seats out of the 130.