Turkey to freeze assets with al-Qaeda, Taliban links

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Turkish government has issued a resolution to freeze the assets of individuals and corporations known to have links to the terrorist al-Qaeda and the Taliban in an effort to remove itself from a “gray list” compiled by an international body that combats terrorism financing Today’s Zaman reported.

The resolution approved by the Cabinet was published in the Oct 10 issue of the Official Gazette and has gone into force. Turkey will freeze the assets of 349 individuals and 67 corporations as per the decision.

Turkey has long been under pressure by the international community for its lack of action against the financing of terrorism. Turkey was placed on a “gray list” along with countries such as Syria, Ethiopia, Cuba and Kenya, compiled by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). “Gray list” countries are thought to have not done enough or not be committed to the FATF's action plan to address their deficiencies in combating financing terrorism. The reason Turkey was placed on the list is due to its failure to comply with a UN Security Council resolution on freezing assets owned by individuals affiliated with the terrorist organizations al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Turkey had long dragged its feet on supporting the resolution but gave in to international pressure and adopted a law against the financing of terrorism earlier this year. It also adopted a resolution including recommendations of the UN Security Council, which was published in the Official Gazette.

The resolution orders that the assets of 130 real and four corporate persons determined to have links to the Taliban and 219 individuals and 63 corporations with links to al-Qaeda be frozen.