Statement on Designation of Three Additional Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Secretary Colin L. Powell
Washington, DC
March 27, 2002

Today I am announcing the designation of three additional foreign terrorist organizations. They are: 'Asbat al-Ansar, the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, whose imminent designation was announced last week, is also being designated under the authority of two executive orders blocking terrorist assets, effective today. The designations of these groups, which were published today in the Federal Register, make it unlawful for persons in the United States or subject to U.S. jurisdiction to provide material support or resources to these groups, require U.S. financial institutions to block assets held by the groups, and makes representatives, members, and supporters of the groups ineligible for visas. I designated these three groups, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, after an exhaustive review of these groups' violent activities.

Today's designations bring to 33 the number of groups on the list of foreign terrorist organizations designated. Beyond the legal ramifications of these designations, I hope this will leave no doubt that the United States considers terrorism to be unacceptable, regardless of any supposed political or ideological purpose.