المملكة: “Freezing within hours”… The pursuit of terrorist funds reaches “family funds” and associations

The National Center for the Development of Combating terrorismand its financing.

He explained the practical procedures for immediate compliance with targeted financial sanctions and protecting the sector from exploitation.

The new guide is based on the royal decrees on combating terrorism crimes and its financing, and the system of civil society associations and foundations, in addition to the decisions of the Permanent Committee for Combating Terrorism and its Financing, to ensure a safe charitable work environment that complies with international standards.

The mandatory scope of this guide includes all civil society associations, civil foundations, and funds. Family and civil society organizations are subject to the supervision of the National Center, which places a wide segment of civil society organizations in front of direct legal and security responsibilities.

The main responsibility of the organizations revolves around immediately freezing funds and assets, and prohibiting the provision of any financial or non-financial services, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of names and entities included on the UN and national sanctions lists.

The Center obligated the associations and institutions to follow the consolidated lists of the Security Council and the National Committee on a daily and continuous basis, to ensure awareness of any updates that occur. Classifications, whether by inclusion, deletion, or modification.

The guide stressed that the implementation of freezing procedures must take place “without delay” and within a few hours of the issuance of the decision, and without prior warning to the targeted entities, to ensure the effectiveness of the sanctions and prevent the smuggling of assets.

These measures specifically target ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and those affiliated with the Taliban, in addition to the unified national list “1373” issued by the Presidency of State Security, and any other entities associated with them.

The controls stipulate that non-profit organizations are obligated to lift the seizure immediately if the name is removed from the UN lists, provided that there are no other restrictions imposed under the national lists, based on an official notification received from the center.

The Permanent Committee for Combating Terrorism and its Financing, headed by State Security, undertakes the tasks of identifying and classifying, while the National Center for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector assumes the monitoring and supervisory role to ensure the organizations’ commitment to precise implementation.

The guide warned against any laxity or delay. In implementing the freezing decisions, the negligent organization or individuals will be exposed to legal accountability and the application of the penalties stipulated in the relevant regulations, taking into account the protection of the principle of good faith.

The instructions emphasized the confidentiality of the information exchanged regarding the targeted names, obliging the concerned parties to protect data with the same level of protection applied to local sources, and not to disclose it except within authorized regulatory frameworks.

The guide made it possible for organizations wishing to enhance their compliance to request technical assistance and capacity-building programs from the committee. Permanent Council to combat terrorism and its financing, to enhance common understanding of risks and coping mechanisms.