Syria: Muslim Brotherhood in Crisis
Syria has long held special significance for the Muslim Brotherhood — not merely as a key regional arena, but as one of the earliest countries where the movement took root after its ideological founding in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna. The Brotherhood rapidly expanded its influence in Syria, participating in national politics until the rise of the Ba’ath Party to power in Damascus. From that point, the group shifted to armed confrontation with Hafez al-Assad’s regime — a decision that led to a crackdown, mass arrests, and the exile of its leadership.
Decades in exile, coupled with a deeply ingrained culture of secrecy and rigid hierarchy, have left many Syrians distrustful of the Brotherhood.
The Syrian Brotherhood sees itself as part of a global Islamist movement aiming to establish governance based on Sharia law — a goal that has taken on new urgency in the event of a regime collapse triggered by large-scale military offensives by Islamist factions, some formerly linked to al-Qaeda.
For the Brotherhood, Syria is more than a domestic arena: it is a gateway to exert influence in neighboring countries amid a turbulent regional climate. Its leaders also view the country’s shared northern border with Turkey as an opportunity to secure political and logistical backing from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
One of the Brotherhood’s enduring advantages lies in its structure: it remains one of the most organized, disciplined, and politically experienced Syrian movements. While opposition forces operating inside Syria have struggled under the Assad regime’s authoritarian constraints, the Brotherhood’s exile enabled it to refine its messaging, strengthen networks, and secure funding — often in coordination with the wider global Brotherhood organization.
Yet, optimism about operating freely in post-Assad Syria faces steep obstacles. The Brotherhood enjoys open support only from Qatar and Turkey. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Bahrain are staunchly opposed, while Israel remains hostile over the group’s links to Hamas and alleged ties with Iran. Western capitals also remain wary, further discouraging Syria’s emerging leadership from offering the Brotherhood any role in governance — particularly amid Damascus’s urgent drive for Arab and international reintegration, and the lifting of decades-old Western sanctions.
