Discussion on US steps up sanctions on HASM terrorist group

The US has increased sanctions against Harakat
Sawa’d Misr terrorist group (HASM) by designating the group as a Foreign
Terrorist Organization (FTO) under section 219 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA), a statement by the State Department read on Thursday.
HASM was
previously designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT)
pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 in January 2018 "for posing a
significant risk of committing acts of terrorism."
The US State
Department also announced that it has named Yahya Al-Sayyid Ibrahim Musa and
Alaa Ali Ali Mohammed Al-Samahi as Specially Designated Global Terrorists
"for being the leaders of HASM."
These
designations seek to deny HASM and its leadership the resources to plan and
carry out terrorist attacks," the statement read.
"...All
of Hasm’s, Musa’s, and al-Samahi’s property and interests that are within the
United States or that come within the United States or that come within the
possession or control of US persons, are blocked, and US persons are generally
prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them,” the statement
explained.
As a designated
FTO, it is a federal crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to
provide, material support or resources to HASM, the statement concluded.
Musa and
Al-Samahi, who are reportedly in Turkey, are accused of being the masterminds
and leaders of HASM.
Musa was
sentenced to death in absentia in Egypt by the Criminal Court in July 2017 for
the assassination of Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat in 2015.
HASM has
claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks in Egypt that have killed
dozens of police and army personnel.
The Egyptian
court of urgent matters designated the group a terrorist organisation, banning
its activity in the country in February 2017.
The Egyptian
government has linked HASM with the Muslim Brotherhood group, which was banned
and designated a terrorist organisation in Egypt, late 2013.
The US State
Department also announced it had amended terrorist designations of a number of
terrorist organizations above the 'ISIL Sinai' to include additional aliases in
its designations. It designated the 'ISIL Sinai' as a terrorist organization in
2014.
The ISIL
Sinai or Islamic State in Sinai has claimed responsibility for most of the terrorist
attacks in North Sinai since 2013 against security and army personnel as well
as civilians.