US imposes sanctions on SL businessman

• Mohamad Haris Nizar, alleged to have links to a financial facilitator and external operations plotter of al-Qa’ida

The United States has imposed sanctions on a Sri Lanka-based businessman identified as Mohamad Irshad Mohamad Haris Nizar, over his alleged links to a financial facilitator and external operations plotter of al-Qa’ida.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said that Nizar has been the business partner of the external operations plotter of al-Qa’ida in Sri Lanka since at least late 2018. Their business dealings in Sri Lanka have generated nearly $200,000 per year in profit.   

The sanctions require any property or business, fully or partially owned by Nizar and Turkmen in the USA be reported to the OFAC, and prohibits US nationals from have any transactions with the two individuals, unless a specific licence is issued by the OFAC.

The US Department of Treasury said in a statement on Wednesday that both  Nizar and  Turkmen, had conducted businesses activities to assist Talib, who was previously designated by OFAC for facilitating the international movement of individuals and finances in furtherance of al-Qa’eda’s objectives.

It said Australian authorities had arrested Talib on March 25, 2021, and days later charged him with plotting incursions into foreign states for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities.

“Treasury is taking this action to further disrupt a transnational al-Qa’eda financial facilitation and operational plotting network. The United States continues to work with our foreign partners to counter the operational and financial activities of al-Qa’eda and its associates, wherever they may be,” the statement quoted Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson as saying.

The statement elaborated the individuals were being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups and their supporters.

It said OFAC had designated Talib pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on October 19, 2020, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, al-Qa’eda. He had also conducted business around the world, including in Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Türkiye, and the Gulf.

Nizar has been identified as the Sri Lanka-based business partner of Talib, and as of mid-2018, both had been joint representatives of the same business, with their  business dealings in Sri Lanka generated nearly $200,000 per year in profit. The statement said the majority of Talib’s income had been derived from one-third of those proceeds and that Nizar is also a relative of Talib.

Nizar, the statement said, was being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Talib.