Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC
December 23, 2003
Redesignation of Foreign Terrorist Organizations
The Secretary
of State has redesignated two groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
under U.S. law effective today: Jaish e-Mohammed and Lashkar e-Tayyiba.
The initial designations of these groups in 2001 are due to expire
on December 26, 2003. By redesignating Jaish e-Mohammed and Lashkar
e-Tayyiba as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and publishing that decision
today in the Federal Register, we preserve the U.S. Government's ability
to take action against them in accordance with the provisions of the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. This act makes it illegal
for persons in the United States or subject to U.S. jurisdiction to
provide material support to these terrorist groups. It requires U.S.
financial institutions to block assets held by them; and it enables
us to deny visas to representatives of these groups. The Secretary
made this decision in consultation with the Attorney General and the
Secretary of the Treasury after a thorough review of these groups'
terrorist activities over the past two years. In addition, in consultation
with the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary has amended the designations
of Jaish e-Mohammed and Lashkar e-Tayyiba under Executive Order 13224
to add new aliases currently in use by these terrorist organizations.
With these redesignations,
the number of designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations remains at
36. As we carry on the global campaign against terrorism, we hope
this list will help to isolate these terrorist organizations, to choke
off their sources of financial support, and to prevent their members'
movement across international borders.
2003/1289
[End]
Source: Bureau
of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State