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UN Sanctions List Update: One Entry Removed from ISIL/Al-Qaida List

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/70 · issued 27 Aug 2024 · ~2 min read

Quick answerRBI directs all regulated entities to update their screening systems after the UNSC removed Yassine Chekkouri from the ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions list. Entities must ensure no accounts or services are maintained for listed individuals and follow the UAPA procedure for de-listing requests.

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 working together) removed one person named Yassine Chekkouri from the list of people linked to bad groups (ISIL and Al-Qaida).
Banks and other money companies must update their computer systems to stop blocking this person's accounts or services.
If a customer asks to be removed from the list, bank staff must send that request to the government office (Joint Secretary, CTCR, MHA) following the rules of the UAPA (a law against unlawful activities).
Keep checking the UN's updates to make sure your list is always correct.

How it plays out — a real example

A payments & clearing officer in Indore checks her bank's sanctions screening system every morning. After reading this RBI update, she removes Yassine Chekkouri from the blocked list so that if he ever applies for a gold loan, the system won't wrongly freeze his account. She also notes the procedure for forwarding any de-listing requests from customers to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

What changed

The UN Security Council removed one individual, Yassine Chekkouri (Morocco, DOB 6 Oct 1966), from the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List effective August 23, 2024. RBI has communicated this change to all regulated entities, advising them to update their compliance checks accordingly.

What it means for you

Banks and other regulated entities must promptly update their sanctions screening databases to reflect the removal of this entry. Failure to align with the updated list could result in non-compliance with UAPA obligations. Entities must also continue to follow the established procedure for handling any de-listing requests from customers.

What you must do

Update your sanctions screening systems to remove Yassine Chekkouri from the blocked list.
Verify that no existing accounts or transactions are frozen solely due to this now-removed entry.
Remind staff to forward any de-listing requests from customers to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA as per existing instructions.
Monitor the UNSC press releases and updated sanctions lists regularly for future changes.

Who it affects

All scheduled commercial banks, Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), Payment system operators, Other regulated entities under RBI's KYC Master Direction

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Stated effective date effective August 23, 2024
Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-18 02:51 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 UNSC list update for my bank?

The UNSC removed one individual from its ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions list. Your bank must update its screening systems to stop blocking that individual and ensure compliance with UAPA Section 51A.

How should my bank handle de-listing requests from customers?

Any de-listing request received must be forwarded electronically to Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs. Customers can also approach the UN Ombudsperson directly for delisting.

Where can I find the latest sanctions lists?

The updated lists are available on the UNSC website at www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list and for Taliban at www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1988/materials.

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

RBI/2024-25/70
 DOR.AML.REC.42/14.06.001/2024-25
 August 27, 2024
 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: Amendments in 01 Entry
 Please refer to Section 51 of our Master Direction on Know Your Customer dated February 25, 2016 as amended on January 04 , 2024 (MD on KYC), in terms of which “Regulated Entities (REs) shall ensure that in terms of Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act, 1967 and amendments thereto, 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 connection, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India has informed about the UNSC press release SC/15800 dated August 23, 2024 wherein the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al‑Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities removed the entry below from the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al‑Qaida Sanctions List after concluding its consideration of the de-listing request for this name submitted through the Office of the Ombudsperson established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1904 (2009), and of the Comprehensive Report of the Ombudsperson on this de-listing request.
 A. Individuals
 QDi.070 Name: 1: YASSINE 2: CHEKKOURI 3: na 4: na
 Name (original script): ياسين شكوري 
 Title: na Designation: na DOB: 6 Oct. 1966 POB: Safi, Morocco Good quality 
 a.k.a.: na Low quality a.k.a.: na Nationality: Morocco Passport no: Morocco number
 F46947 National identification no: Morocco H-135467
 3. In accordance with paragraph 58 of resolution 2610 (2021), the Committee has made accessible on its website the narrative summaries of reasons for listing of the above entries at the following URL:
 www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list/summaries .
 4. Press release dated August 23, 2024 regarding the above can be found at https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15800.doc.htm 
 Further, the UNSC press releases concerning amendments to the list are available at URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/press-releases 
 5. The details of the sanction measures and exemptions are available at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267#further_information 
 6. In view of the above, REs are advised to take appropriate action in terms of Section 51 of the MD on KYC and strictly follow the procedure as laid down in the UAPA Order dated February 02, 2021 (amended on August 29, 2023) annexed to the MD on KYC.
 7. 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 
 8. Further, as per the instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), any request for de-listing received by any 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 
 9. REs are advised to take note of the aforementioned UNSC communications and ensure meticulous compliance.
 Yours faithfully,
 (Veena Srivastava)
 Chief General Manager

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/70 · issued 27 Aug 2024. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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Who does what — compliance checklist

💻 IT / Systems

Update your sanctions screening systems to remove Yassine Chekkouri from the blocked list.

📜 Compliance

Verify that no existing accounts or transactions are frozen solely due to this now-removed entry.
Remind staff to forward any de-listing requests from customers to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA as per existing instructions.
Monitor the UNSC press releases and updated sanctions lists regularly for future changes.

Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.

Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (All scheduled commercial banks, Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), Payment system operators, Other regulated entities under RBI's KYC Master Direction), your first concrete step on “UN Sanctions List Update: One Entry Removed from ISIL/Al-Qaida List” is: “Update your sanctions screening systems to remove Yassine Chekkouri from the blocked list.” (RBI issued this 27 Aug 2024).

Circular: RBI/2024-25/70 -- UN Sanctions List Update: One Entry Removed from ISIL/Al-Qaida List
Issued: 27 Aug 2024
Action required: Update your sanctions screening systems to remove Yassine Chekkouri from the blocked list.
Action required: Verify that no existing accounts or transactions are frozen solely due to this now-removed entry.
Action required: Remind staff to forward any de-listing requests from customers to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA as per existing instructions.
Action required: Monitor the UNSC press releases and updated sanctions lists regularly for future changes.
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=12728&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.