This one could get ugly, Jordan’s MB branch, the Islamic Action Front, is an extremely powerful force inside the kingdom, the only thing keeping them in check is the King’s even more powerful intelligence apparatus (GID).

(Times of Israel)— With the Muslim Brotherhood and affiliated parties making political gains in Egypt and elsewhere in the region, King Abdullah is moving to thwart a similar process in Jordan.

The lower house of Jordan’s parliament has ratified a proposed amendment to the political parties law, banning the establishment of political parties on “a religious basis.” From here the law goes to the Senate (upper house), which is appointed by Abdullah. If passed, the law will disqualify Jordan’s largest opposition party, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Islamic Action Front.

The bill’s initiator, Mamdouh Al-Abadi, told the independent Jordanian daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm Tuesday that numerous Middle East countries including Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey and Morocco forbid parties to have Islamic titles while still allowing them to include religious values.

On Saturday, the Islamic Action Front’s legislative body, the Shura Council, issued a harsh statement condemning the proposed law as a “shock” to Jordanians. The party indicated it may stop cooperating with the king on his reform initiative if the bill goes forward.

“[We] adamantly refuse to take part in such a ridiculous political process as false witnesses by overriding the will of the Jordanian people,” read the statement.

Hamza Mansour, leader of the Islamic Action Front, was noncommittal Tuesday about whether his party would run in the upcoming elections, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported.