Saudi Arabia officially declared that the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization on Friday.
Several other groups were also declared to be terrorists groups, such as the jihadist groups the Nursa Front and the Islamic State and the Levant, reports BBC News. The groups have been fighting alongside rebels in Syria.
The news was released in an interior ministry statement and notes those in Syria have 15 days to return to Saudi Arabia or risk a prison sentence of up to 20 years, which is part of an earlier royal decree issued by King Abdullah. Anyone found to be part of a terrorist organization faces a 20-year prison sentence.
The country also followed in the footsteps of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in calling back their ambassador stationed in Qatar.
According to The Associated Press, the new harsh rule, which some worry could be used to quell political dissent, also will apply to any groups that the United Nations Security Council have declared to be terrorist groups.
While the Brotherhood were not pleased with Saudi Arabia's declarations, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel-Attie spoke positively about the move and noted, "We expect other countries to fulfill their responsibilities in the fight against terrorism."
image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
