Listing of terrorist entities

Prime Minister Helen Clark said today that the following organisation and individuals have been listed as terrorist entities pursuant to the provisions of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002:

Organisation: Lajnat Al Daawa Al Islamiya (LDI)

Individuals: Abdelghani MZOUDI Youssef ABDAOUI Mohamed Amine AKLI Mehrez AMDOUNI Chiheb Ben Mohamed AYARI Mondher BAAZAOUI Lionel DUMONT Moussa Ben Amor ESSAADI Rachid FETTAR Brahim Ben HedilI HAMAMI Khalil JARRAYA Mounir Ben Habib JARRAYA Faouzi JENDOUBI Fethi Ben Rebai MNASRI Najib QUAZ Ahmed Hosni RARRBO Nedal SALEH

Helen Clark said that these designations follow a decision by the United Nations Security Council to list the LDI group and the individuals named above as terrorist entities. The listing in New Zealand takes effect immediately for a period of three years, unless extended.

“The decision to proceed with these designations was taken by me as Prime Minister, in consultation with the Attorney General, pursuant to the Terrorism Suppression Act.

“The United Nations identified LDI as a terrorist organisation based on information drawn from a number of sources, including confidential reports and media sources. It is a fundraising entity for organisations, including Al Qaeda, which are engaged in terrorist activity. It is headquartered in Kuwait and has branches in the Middle East and Africa.

“Abdelghani MZOUDI, was arrested in Hamburg, Germany in October 2002 after being under investigation for a year on suspicion that he provided logistical support to the Al Qaeda Hamburg cell of September 11 plotters.

“The remaining sixteen individuals are linked to the Armed Islamic Group (known by its French acronym, GIA). Since Algeria became embroiled in a bloody civil war in 1992, the GIA has been linked to terrorist attacks in Europe and to the massacre of tens of thousands of civilians in Algeria. The GIA’s aim is to overthrow the present Algerian regime and replace it with an Islamic state.

“The UN Security Council listed the GIA group as a terrorist organisation prior to the enactment of the Terrorism Suppression Act in October 2002. With its passage, the transitional provision of the Act (Section 75) meant that the GIA became designated in New Zealand in October 2002.”

Helen Clark said that there was no connection to be made between the designation of the 16 individuals associated with GIA and the current case of Ahmed Zaoui in New Zealand. She said that these designations were processed as part of meeting New Zealand’s obligations as a member of the United Nations. The timing of these listings in New Zealand follows the listing of the individuals associated with GIA by the United Nations on 27 June 2003.

“None of these designated groups or individuals is known to be active in New Zealand. Nevertheless, designating these entities as terrorists will serve to deter New Zealanders from becoming inadvertently involved in their activities. It will also make it an offence to participate in Lajnat Al Daawa Al Islamiya, recruit members for this group, provide or collect funds for this group or make property or financial services available to any of the entities designated. The financing of international terrorism is a matter of grave concern to the international community as a whole and one that New Zealand, as a member of that community, recognises the need to address effectively. These designations assist in that process,” Helen Clark said.

© Scoop Media