Little is known, and even less is uncontested, about the history of the Muslim Brotherhood in the United States (U.S.). Some, in fact, have even questioned whether the Brotherhood has ever operated in America. Yet ample evidence clearly demonstrates that the group has been active in the U.S. from the late 1950s. It is also fair to say that its presence has historically been substantial and well-organized, even compared to European countries like France and the United Kingdom, where the Brotherhood has a significant footprint.
This report seeks to trace the history of the Muslim Brotherhood in America based on a large body of literature, which includes academic writings, publications by Muslim Brotherhood-linked organizations and individuals, court documents, and trial exhibits. This evidence is supplemented by many personal testimonials of individuals who belong or used to belong to the group in America.
This information is the result of over 25 years of dedicated research by the author. The report draws heavily from the U.S.-focused chapters of his two books, The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West (Columbia University Press, 2010), and The Closed Circle: Joining and Leaving the Muslim Brotherhood in the West (Columbia University Press, 2020). The report does not seek to provide a comprehensive view of the Brotherhood in America, a task of herculean proportions. Rather, it aims to provide a succinct but informed overview of the group’s history in America, tracing the origins of many organizations that have today achieved a high degree of influence within sections of the American Muslim community and with American policymakers.