Arab and Muslim countries in the Middle East have issued a sharp and direct message to Western nations. These countries have questioned why Western countries like Britain and Australia are allowing activities and protests by individuals associated with the Muslim Brotherhood when they themselves, despite being Muslim and affiliated with Islamic societies, have declared the organization a terrorist organization.
Arab leaders and analysts say, “We are Arabs, we are Muslims, and we come from the Middle East. We considered the Muslim Brotherhood terrorists and banned it. So why is the West trying to be more ‘Muslim’ than us?” This statement comes at a time when debate has intensified in Europe and Australia over the role of Islamic organizations, freedom of expression, and internal security. Arab countries argue that the Muslim Brotherhood is not just an ideological movement, but has been linked to political instability, violence, and coups in many countries.
On the other hand, Western countries maintain that banning an organization is inconsistent with their legal and democratic frameworks unless its activities are directly linked to violence or terrorism. Analysts say this conflict is not limited to the Muslim Brotherhood, but rather highlights the profound ideological divide between the security-focused thinking of the Middle East and Western liberal democracy. Arab countries argue that they have experienced the realities on the ground and are therefore better able to identify threats.