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UN Sanctions List Updated: 5 Terror Entries Removed

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/150 · issued 06 Jan 2022 · ~2 min read

Quick answerRBI directs all regulated entities to note the deletion of 5 entries from the UNSC 1267/1989 ISIL & Al-Qaida Sanctions List as of January 4, 2022. Entities must update their screening databases and continue complying with UAPA Section 51A obligations.

Sanctions-list safety note. This circular refers to a specific UN Security Council / UAPA designated-entities list update as it stood on the date above — sanctions lists change often, and a newer update almost certainly exists today. Never use this page, or any single dated circular, as your current screening list. Always screen against the live, current list at the official UAPA proscribed-organisations list and the UN Consolidated List, and confirm the obligations for your bank on the official rbi.org.in source below.

The rule, in the simplest words

Update your AML/KYC screening databases to remove 5 deleted entries from the UNSC sanctions list.
Verify that your internal sanctions screening processes reference the latest UNSC list available at www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list.
Document the update and maintain an audit trail for regulatory review.

How it plays out — a real example

As a payments & clearing officer in Indore, I need to ensure that our bank's customer screening system is updated to reflect the removal of 5 individuals from the UNSC sanctions list. I will verify that our internal processes reference the latest list and document the update for regulatory review. This will help us avoid unnecessary freezes or compliance gaps and maintain our commitment to anti-money laundering and know your customer regulations.

What changed

The UN Security Council removed 5 individuals from its ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List effective January 4, 2022. RBI has communicated this deletion to all regulated entities, advising them to update their records and ensure ongoing compliance with the asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.

What it means for you

Banks and other regulated entities must promptly update their customer screening systems to remove these 5 names from their watchlists. This does not change the overall obligation to screen against the UNSC sanctions list; entities must continue to check all accounts and transactions against the current list. Failure to update could lead to unnecessary freezes or compliance gaps.

What you must do

Update your AML/KYC screening databases to remove the 5 deleted entries (Mevlüt Kar, Denis Mamadou Gerhard Cuspert, Nayef Salam Muhammad Ujaym Al-Hababi, Turki Mubarak Abdullah Ahmad Al-Binali, Tuah Febriwansyah).
Verify that your internal sanctions screening processes reference the latest UNSC list available at www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list.
Remind staff that any delisting requests from customers must be forwarded to the Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs.
Document the update and maintain an audit trail for regulatory review.

Who it affects

All scheduled commercial banks, All non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), All payment system operators, All other regulated entities under RBI's AML/KYC Master Direction

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Stated effective date effective January 4, 2022
Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-18 06:59 IST

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

Do we need to unfreeze accounts of these 5 individuals immediately?

Yes, since the UNSC has deleted these entries, you should remove any freeze or restriction placed solely based on this listing. However, ensure no other legal or regulatory obligation prevents unfreezing.

How often should we update our sanctions list?

RBI expects you to monitor UNSC updates continuously. This circular is a specific notification; you should regularly check the UNSC website for any changes and update your systems promptly.

What if a customer claims they were wrongly listed and wants delisting?

Forward such requests electronically to the Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs. Also inform the customer they can approach the UN Ombudsperson for delisting.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI

RBI/2021-22/150
 DOR.AML.REC.78/14.06.001/2021-22
 January 06, 2022
 The Chairpersons/ CEOs of all the Regulated Entities
 Madam/Dear Sir,
 Implementation of Section 51A of UAPA, 1967: Updates to UNSC’s 1267/ 1989 ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List: Deletion of entries
 Please refer to Section 51 of our Master Direction on Know Your Customer dated February 25, 2016 as amended on May 10 , 2021, in terms of which “Regulated Entities (REs) shall ensure that in terms of Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act, 1967, they do not have any account in the name of individuals/entities appearing in the lists of individuals and entities, suspected of having terrorist links, which are approved by and periodically circulated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).”
 2. In this regard, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has forwarded the following Press Release dated January 04, 2022 , issued by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Committee established pursuant to Resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities regarding changes in the List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of UNSC resolution 2368 (2017), and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.
 Reference SC/14758 dated 04 January 2021 regarding deletion of 5 entries [ QDi.302 Name: 1: MEVLÜT 2: KAR 3: na 4: na QDi.347 Name: 1: DENIS 2: MAMADOU 3: GERHARD 4: CUSPERT QDi.390 Name: 1: NAYEF 2: SALAM 3: MUHAMMAD 4: UJAYM AL-HABABI QDi.391 Name: 1: TURKI 2: MUBARAK 3: ABDULLAH 4: AHMAD AL-BINALI QDi.393 Name: 1: TUAH 2: FEBRIWANSYAH 3: na 4: na ] in UNSC’s 1267/ 1989 ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List.
 The UNSC press release concerning amendments to the list is available at URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/press-releases 
 3. Updated lists of individuals and entities linked to ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and Taliban are available at:
 www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list 
 https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1988/materials 
 4. The details of the sanctions measures and exemptions are available at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267#further_information 
 5. As per the instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), any request for delisting received by any Regulated Entity (RE) is to be forwarded electronically to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA for consideration. Individuals, groups, undertakings or entities seeking to be removed from the Security Council’s ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List can submit their request for delisting to an independent and impartial Ombudsperson who has been appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General. More details are available at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/ombudsperson/application 
 6. In view of the above, REs are advised to take note of the aforementioned UNSC communication and ensure meticulous compliance.
 The UNSC press release concerning amendments to the list is available at URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/press-releases 
 Yours faithfully,
 (Vivek Srivastava)
 General Manager

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/150 · issued 06 Jan 2022. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All scheduled commercial banks, All non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), All payment system operators, All other regulated entities under RBI's AML/KYC Master Direction), your first concrete step on “UN Sanctions List Updated: 5 Terror Entries Removed” is: “Update your AML/KYC screening databases to remove the 5 deleted entries (Mevlüt Kar, Denis Mamadou Gerhard Cuspert, Nayef Salam Muhammad Ujaym Al-Hababi, Turki Mubarak Abdullah Ahmad Al-Binali, Tuah Febriwansyah).” (RBI issued this 06 Jan 2022).

Circular: RBI/2021-22/150 -- UN Sanctions List Updated: 5 Terror Entries Removed
Issued: 06 Jan 2022
Action required: Update your AML/KYC screening databases to remove the 5 deleted entries (Mevlüt Kar, Denis Mamadou Gerhard Cuspert, Nayef Salam Muhammad Ujaym Al-Hababi, Turki Mubarak Abdullah Ahmad Al-Binali, Tuah Febriwansyah).
Action required: Verify that your internal sanctions screening processes reference the latest UNSC list available at www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list.
Action required: Remind staff that any delisting requests from customers must be forwarded to the Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs.
Action required: Document the update and maintain an audit trail for regulatory review.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________

Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly).
Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12219&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.