US defines ISIS-PH, Maute group as SDGTs, FTO

Islamic State Flag (Photo By Yo, Public Domain)

The United States (US) Department of State on February 27 classified three Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-affiliated groups which included ISIS-Philippines as Specifically Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) and Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

In its announcement, the US State Department cited an ISIS video in June 2016 which shows militants in the country are pledging alliance to ISIS and recruiting other Muslims to join. The department also said that now-deceased Isnilon Hapilon is recognized by ISIS as the leader of ISIS-Philippines.

The Maute Group who led the 154-day Marawi siege from May 23-October 23 also declared its allegiance to ISIS in 2014.

“The Maute Group is responsible for the siege of the City of Marawi in the Philippines, which began in May 2017; the September 2016 Davao market bombing, which killed 15 people and wounded 70 others; and the attempted bomb attack in November 2016 near the U.S. Embassy in Manila,” the announcement said.

The department’s declaration prohibits people from the United States to “engage in transactions” with any of the three groups – ISIS-Philippines, ISIS-West Africa, or ISIS-Bangladesh.

“The groups’ property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked,” the announcement read.

It added, “It is a crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to provide, materials support or resources to the organizations.”

The announcement cited Executive Order (EO) 13224 Section 1(b) and Immigration and Nationality Act Section 219 for the designation.

“E.O. 13224 imposes strict sanctions on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Among other consequences, all property and interests in property of the designees are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them,” it read.

The State Department also designated two ISIS-affiliated leaders and four more groups as SDGTs, namely ISIS-Somalia, Jund al-Khilafah-Tunisia, ISIS-Egypt, Maute group, and Mahad Moalim and Abu Musab al-Barnawi.

Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan A. Sales said that “these designations target key ISIS-affiliated groups and leaders outside its fallen caliphate in Iraq and Syria. Today’s actions are a critical step in degrading ISIS’s global network and denying its affiliates the resources they need to plan and carry out terrorist attacks.”