OFAC update

IMPORTANT: The OFAC list has been updated as of 9/24/01.

Here are the details:

The changes arise from a new Executive Order signed by the President which targets terrorists. The order immediately freezes United States financial assets of and prohibits United States transactions with 27 different entities. They include terrorist organizations, individual terrorist leaders, a corporation that serves as a front for terrorism, and several nonprofit organizations.

President Bush, in his statement, said: "Just to show you how insidious these terrorists are, they oftentimes use nice-sounding, non-governmental organizations as fronts for their activities. We have targeted three such NGOs. We intend to deal with them, just like we intend to deal with others who aid and abet terrorist organizations. This executive order means that United States banks that have assets of these groups or individuals must freeze their accounts. And United States citizens or businesses are prohibited from doing business with them."

In his words, this is "the international financial equivalent of law enforcement's "Most Wanted" list.

The assets of the individuals and entities added to OFAC's SDN assets need to be BLOCKED and IMMEDIATE NOTICE given to OFAC. Financial institutions should call OFAC's Hotline if they have any hits or questions.

Basically, all property and interests in property of the following persons that are in the United States or that hereafter come within the United States, or that hereafter come within the possession or control of United States persons are blocked.

• Al Qaida/Islamic Army
• Abu Sayyaf Group
• Armed Islamic Group (GIA)
• Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM)
• Al-Jihad (Egyptian Islamic Jihad)
• Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)
• Asbat al-Ansar
• Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC)
• Libyan Islamic Fighting Group
• Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI)
• Islamic Army of Aden
• Usama bin Laden
• Muhammad Atif (aka, Subhi Abu Sitta, Abu Hafs Al Masri)
• Sayf al-Adl
• Shaykh Sai'id (aka, Mustafa Muhammad Ahmad)
• Abu Hafs the Mauritanian (aka, Mahfouz Ould al-Walid, Khalid Al-Shanqiti)
• Ibn Al-Shaykh al-Libi
• Abu Zubaydah (aka, Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn, Tariq)
• Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi (aka, Abu Abdallah)
• Ayman al-Zawahiri
• Thirwat Salah Shihata
• Tariq Anwar al-Sayyid Ahmad (aka, Fathi, Amr al-Fatih)
• Muhammad Salah (aka, Nasr Fahmi Nasr Hasanayn)
• Makhtab Al-Khidamat/Al Kifah
• Wafa Humanitarian Organization
• Al Rashid Trust
• Mamoun Darkazanli Import-Export Company

(a) any transaction or dealing by United States persons or within the United States in property or interests in property blocked pursuant to this order is prohibited, including but not limited to the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods, or services to or for the benefit of those persons listed in the Annex to this order or determined to be subject to this order;

(b) any transaction by any United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited; and

(c) any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited. Sec. 3.