A funeral for a Muslim Brotherhood leader in Egypt. Photo: Screenshot.

JNS.org – The Egyptian government has declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group Wednesday, blaming the group for a suicide bomb attack that killed 16 people and wounded more than 100 at a police headquarters. As a result, membership in the group has now become a criminal offense. Egypt’s military-backed government has been fighting the Muslim Brotherhood since a military coup toppled former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.

Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education Hossam Eissa gave a formal Cabinet statement declaring “the Muslim Brotherhood group and its organization as a terrorist organization..It’s not possible for Egypt the state nor Egypt the people to submit to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorism.”

Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity Ahmed el-Borai also said at a news conference that “all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood group are — banned including the demonstrations,” the Associated Press reported.

The Muslim Brotherhood has denied involvement in the recent attack, and the al-Qaida-inspired and Sinai-based group Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for the bombing Wednesday, Reuters reported.