Treasury imposes sanctions to stem flow of ISIS fighters

The Treasury Department on Wednesday announced sanctions on 11 individuals and one Indonesian organization for aiding the flow of foreign fighters and funding to Islamist terror groups, including the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL).

The move coincided with President Obama’s push at the United Nations Security Council for a resolution calling on countries to disrupt the flow of outside fighters and financing to terrorist organizations. Western leaders have warned those radicalized individuals could use their passports to return home and carry out terror attacks.

{mosads}“Today’s broadly scoped designations will disrupt efforts by ISIL, al Nusrah Front, al-Qaida, and Jemaah Islamiya to raise, transport, and access funds that facilitate foreign terrorist fighters,” said David S. Cohen, undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.  

“These steps, taken the same day as the adoption of a new United Nations Security Council Resolution, affirm the commitment of the United States and our partners to degrade and destroy terrorist access to financing.” 

The penalties will freeze any assets the individuals have under U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibit American citizens and companies from any financial dealings with the designees.

Those impacted include Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili, a Georgian national who has held top military positions in ISIS and oversaw a prison facility in Syria where it is believed the terror group may have held hostages.

Tariq Bin-Al-Tahar Bin Al Falih Al-‘Awni Al-Harzi, an ISIS leader who recruits foreign fighters for the group, will also face financial penalties.

Six other individuals were designated by the Treasury Department for supporting al Qaeda or its offshoots, including the Al-Nusrah Front. They include facilitators in Kuwait, Jordan and Turkey who are thought to have provided financial support for the terror groups.

The sanctions will also hit the Hilal al-Ahmar Society in Indonesia, the charitable arm of the Jemaah Islamiah terror group. According to the Treasury Department, the nongovernmental organization has paid to send foreign fighters to Syria for military training. Three other Jemaah Islamiah leaders are also subject to the penalties.