Russia bans ISIS, Al-Nusra, labels them ‘terrorist’
Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front have been banned in Russia by the Supreme Court, which has ruled both the organizations as ‘terrorist’.
Once the ruling comes into force, those suspected of being
involved with either Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) or
Al-Nusra Front (also known as Jabhat al-Nusra), will face
prosecution in Russia.
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The case against the two extremist groups was initiated by
Russia’s Prosecutor General and supported by the Federal
Intelligence Agency (FSB).
The court hearings were closed for the press, as certain
documents reviewed were classified.
The judge only announced the final decision.
“Having heard representatives of Prosecutor General’s Office
and FSB [Federal Security Service], having studied the case
files, the Supreme Court has ruled: to grant a judgment to the
plaintiff, the prosecutor general, to regard the Islamic State
and Jabhat al-Nusra organizations as terrorists and to ban their
activity in Russia,” the judge said, according to TASS.
Both the banned organizations are Al-Qaeda offshoots, though the
IS has split from its parent organization. Al-Qaeda leaders have
denounced the IS’s brutality, particularly public beheadings –
the group’s major intimidation tool.
Over the last six months, the IS has killed 1,878 people in
Syria, mostly civilians, British-based watchdog the Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has recently estimated.
READ
MORE: ISIS executed nearly 2,000 people, mostly civilians, in 6
months – monitor
Around 80,000 militants are estimated to be currently fighting
with the IS, and the group continues to recruit jihadists from
all over the world.
The IS, currently occupying large parts of Syria and Iraq, is
considered the wealthiest of all terror organizations, having
oilfields and refineries under its control.
The US Treasury said in October that oil sales, ransoms and
extortions helped IS “generate tens of millions of
dollars” monthly. The group’s estimated net worth is $2
billion.
Al-Nusra Front – a branch of Al-Qaeda operating in Syria and
Lebanon - has been in relative obscurity, compared to the
rampaging Islamic State. However, the US-led airstrike campaign
against the IS has led to Al-Nusra Front issuing threats against
the West and pledging support to the IS.
IS jihadists in Syria made a video in September threatening to bring the Russian republic of
Chechnya into their self-proclaimed caliphate.
