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UN Sanctions List: One Entry Deleted – UAPA Compliance Update

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/153 · issued 27 Jan 2022 · ~2 min read

Quick answerRBI notifies deletion of one individual (Khalil Jarraya) from UNSC’s ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions list. Regulated entities must update their screening databases and ensure no frozen accounts remain for this deleted entry.

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 big group of countries) removed one person named Khalil Jarraya from its list of people linked to bad groups (ISIL and Al-Qaida).
Banks and other companies that follow RBI rules must update their computer systems to remove this person's name from their watchlist.
If a bank had frozen (locked) any money or accounts just because of this person's name, they must now unfreeze (unlock) them, as long as no other rule says to keep them frozen.
If someone asks to be removed from the list, the bank must send that request to a special government office (Joint Secretary, CTCR, Ministry of Home Affairs).
Banks must keep a record of all updates and unfreezing actions so that inspectors can check them later.

How it plays out — a real example

A KYC & compliance officer in Indore, Priya, checks her bank's sanctions list every morning. Today, she sees that Khalil Jarraya has been removed from the UN list. She immediately updates the bank's screening system to remove his name, then reviews a frozen account that was linked only to this entry. Since no other legal hold applies, she unfreezes the account and documents the action for the audit team.

What changed

The UN Security Council removed one entry (QDi.099 – Khalil Ben Ahmed Ben Mohamed Jarraya) from its 1267/1989 ISIL & Al-Qaida Sanctions List effective January 24, 2022. RBI has communicated this deletion to all regulated entities, referencing the Master Direction on KYC (Section 51A of UAPA).

What it means for you

Banks and other regulated entities must promptly update their internal sanctions screening systems to reflect this deletion. Any accounts or assets previously frozen solely due to this entry should be unfrozen, subject to independent verification. Continued freezing after deletion could expose the entity to legal or reputational risk.

What you must do

Update your UNSC sanctions list database to remove the deleted entry (Khalil Jarraya) immediately.
Review any frozen accounts or transactions linked to this individual and unfreeze them if no other legal hold applies.
Ensure compliance with MHA’s delisting request procedure: forward any delisting requests from affected parties to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA.
Document the update and unfreezing actions for audit and regulatory review.

Who it affects

All scheduled commercial banks, Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), Payment system operators, Other RBI-regulated entities

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Stated effective date effective January 24, 2022
Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-18 06:58 IST

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

What is the significance of this deletion for my bank?

It means you must remove this individual from your internal sanctions watchlist and unfreeze any accounts or assets that were frozen solely because of this UNSC listing. Failure to update could lead to compliance gaps.

How do I verify the updated UNSC sanctions list?

The official updated list is available at www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list. Cross-check your internal database against this source.

What if the deleted individual contacts us for delisting?

Forward the request electronically to Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs, as per MHA instructions. Also inform the individual about the UN Ombudsperson process for delisting.

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

RBI/2021-22/153
 DOR.AML.REC.83/14.06.001/2021-22
 January 27, 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 1 entry
 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 24, 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/14773 dated 24 January 2022 regarding deletion of 1 entry [QDi.099 Name: 1: KHALIL 2: BEN AHMED 3: BEN MOHAMED 4: JARRAYA Title: na Designation: na DOB: 8 Feb. 1969 POB: Sfax, Tunisia Good quality a.k.a.: a) Khalil Yarraya b) Ben Narvan Abdel Aziz born 15 Aug. 1970 in Sereka (former Yugoslavia) c) Abdel Aziz Ben Narvan born 15 Aug. 1970 in Sereka (former Yugoslavia) Low quality a.k.a.: a) Amro b) Omar c) Amrou d) Amr Nationality: Tunisia Passport no: Tunisian number K989895, issued on 26 Jul. 1995, issued in Genoa, Italy (expired on 25 Jul. 2000) National identification no: 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/2021-22/153 · issued 27 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, Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), Payment system operators, Other RBI-regulated entities), your first concrete step on “UN Sanctions List: One Entry Deleted – UAPA Compliance Update” is: “Update your UNSC sanctions list database to remove the deleted entry (Khalil Jarraya) immediately.” (RBI issued this 27 Jan 2022).

Circular: RBI/2021-22/153 -- UN Sanctions List: One Entry Deleted – UAPA Compliance Update
Issued: 27 Jan 2022
Action required: Update your UNSC sanctions list database to remove the deleted entry (Khalil Jarraya) immediately.
Action required: Review any frozen accounts or transactions linked to this individual and unfreeze them if no other legal hold applies.
Action required: Ensure compliance with MHA’s delisting request procedure: forward any delisting requests from affected parties to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA.
Action required: Document the update and unfreezing actions for audit and 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=12224&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.