HomeCirculars › RBI/2021-22/57

UNSC Sanctions List Update: One Individual Added

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/57 · issued 18 Jun 2021 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all regulated entities to note the addition of Mohammad Ali Al Habbo to the UNSC ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions list. Entities must freeze assets and ensure no accounts exist for this individual, as per UAPA Section 51A.
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
How it plays out — a real example

As a payments & clearing officer in Indore, Rohan must immediately screen his customer database against the new entry of Mohammad Ali Al Habbo. If he finds any matches, he freezes the assets and reports it to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) and MHA, ensuring that his bank remains compliant with the regulations.

What changed

The UNSC added one individual, Mohammad Ali Al Habbo, to its ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List. RBI has communicated this update to all regulated entities, requiring them to update their screening lists and ensure compliance with asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo measures.

What it means for you

Banks and other regulated entities must immediately screen their customer databases against this new entry and freeze any accounts or assets linked to the individual. Failure to comply could lead to regulatory action under UAPA and RBI guidelines. This is a routine but critical update to counter-terrorism financing obligations.

What you must do

Who it affects

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

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

What is the source of this sanctions list update?

The update comes from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Committee established under Resolutions 1267, 1989, and 2253, and was forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs to RBI.

What should we do if we find a match for this individual in our records?

Immediately freeze the account or asset, and report the action to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as per existing guidelines.

How can this individual request delisting from the sanctions list?

The individual can submit a delisting request to the UN Ombudsperson appointed by the UN Secretary-General, or to the Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA, who will process it further.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-22/57 DOR.AML.REC.22/14.06.001/2021-22 June 18, 2021 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: Amendment of one 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 now forwarded the following Press Release 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. Note SC/14555 dated 17 June 2021 regarding addition of one individual QDi.429 Name: 1: MOHAMMAD 2: ALI 3: AL HABBO] 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: http://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. Yours faithfully, (Vivek Srivastava) General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/57 · issued 18 Jun 2021. 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, All other regulated entities under RBI), your first concrete step on “UNSC Sanctions List Update: One Individual Added” is: “Update your UNSC sanctions screening lists to include Mohammad Ali Al Habbo.” (RBI issued this 18 Jun 2021).

  1. Circular: RBI/2021-22/57 -- UNSC Sanctions List Update: One Individual Added
  2. Issued: 18 Jun 2021
  3. Action required: Update your UNSC sanctions screening lists to include Mohammad Ali Al Habbo.
  4. Action required: Conduct a sweep of all customer accounts and transactions for matches with this new entry.
  5. Action required: Freeze any identified assets or accounts immediately and report to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) and MHA.
  6. Action required: Forward any delisting requests received from this individual to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA electronically.
  7. Action required: Ensure compliance with the existing KYC Master Direction and UAPA Section 51A requirements.
  8. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  9. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  10. 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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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12116&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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