UN Sanctions List Updated: 3 Terror Entries Removed
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/152 · issued 18 Jan 2022 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all regulated entities to update their records as the UNSC removed three Al-Haramain Foundation entries from the ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions list. Banks must ensure no accounts exist for delisted entities and follow MHA delisting procedures.
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
The United Nations (a group of countries) removed three groups named 'Al-Haramain' from its list of bad people linked to terrorism.
Banks and other money companies must take these three groups off their own watch-lists right away.
If a bank had frozen any money or accounts belonging to these three groups just because they were on the list, the bank must now unfreeze them.
If someone asks to be taken off the list, the bank must send that request to the Ministry of Home Affairs (a government office) in India.
Banks must keep checking the United Nations list for any new changes in the future.
How it plays out — a real example
Priya, a compliance officer at a bank in Mumbai, gets the RBI's notice about the three Al-Haramain groups being removed from the UN sanctions list. She immediately logs into her bank's system, deletes those three names from the internal watch-list, and sends an email to her team to unfreeze any accounts linked to them. She also notes that if any of these groups later ask to be officially delisted, she must forward that request to the Ministry of Home Affairs, not handle it herself.
What changed
The UNSC 1267/1989 sanctions list deleted three entries: Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation (Bosnia), Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation (Somalia), and Al-Haramain Foundation (Indonesia). RBI has communicated this change to all regulated entities, requiring them to update their compliance checks accordingly.
What it means for you
Banks and other regulated entities must immediately remove these three entities from their internal sanctions screening lists and unfreeze any assets previously frozen due to their listing. However, entities must continue to monitor the UNSC list for any future changes and ensure strict compliance with UAPA Section 51A obligations.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions screening databases by removing the three deleted Al-Haramain entries.
Unfreeze any accounts or assets of these entities if they were frozen solely due to this listing.
Forward any delisting requests from individuals or entities to MHA's Joint Secretary (CTCR) as per existing instructions.
Regularly check the UNSC sanctions list at the provided URLs for any future amendments.
Who it affects
All scheduled commercial banks, All non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), All other regulated entities under RBI's purview
❓ Common questions
What are the three entries deleted from the UNSC sanctions list?
The deleted entries are Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation (Bosnia), Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation (Somalia), and Al-Haramain Foundation (Indonesia).
What should we do if we have frozen assets for these entities?
You should unfreeze those assets immediately, as the UNSC has removed them from the sanctions list. Ensure your internal records are updated to reflect this change.
How do we handle delisting requests from other entities?
Forward any delisting requests to the Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs, as per MHA instructions. Entities can also approach the UN Ombudsperson for delisting.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-22/152
DOR.AML.REC.82/14.06.001/2021-22
January 18, 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 3 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 17, 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/14767 dated 17 January 2022 regarding deletion of 3 entries [QDe.071 Name: AL-HARAMAIN ISLAMIC FOUNDATION A.k.a.: a) Vazir b) Vezir F.k.a.: na Address: a) (64 Poturmahala, Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina) b) Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
QDe.072 Name: AL-HARAMAIN ISLAMIC FOUNDATION (SOMALIA) A.k.a.: na F.k.a.: na Address: Somalia
QDe.103 Name: AL-HARAMAIN FOUNDATION (INDONESIA) A.k.a.: Yayasan Al-Manahil-Indonesia F.k.a.: na Address: (Jalan Laut Sulawesi Blok DII/4, Kavling Angkatan Laut Duren Sawit, Jakarta Timur 13440 Indonesia (at time of listing); Tel.: 021-86611265 and 021-86611266; Fax.: 021-8620174)] 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/2021-22/152 · issued 18 Jan 2022. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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 other regulated entities under RBI's purview), your first concrete step on “UN Sanctions List Updated: 3 Terror Entries Removed” is: “Update your internal sanctions screening databases by removing the three deleted Al-Haramain entries.” (RBI issued this 18 Jan 2022).
Circular: RBI/2021-22/152 -- UN Sanctions List Updated: 3 Terror Entries Removed
Issued: 18 Jan 2022
Action required: Update your internal sanctions screening databases by removing the three deleted Al-Haramain entries.
Action required: Unfreeze any accounts or assets of these entities if they were frozen solely due to this listing.
Action required: Forward any delisting requests from individuals or entities to MHA's Joint Secretary (CTCR) as per existing instructions.
Action required: Regularly check the UNSC sanctions list at the provided URLs for any future amendments.
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
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=12221&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.
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