Country Reports on Terrorism 2012
Country Reports on Terrorism 2012 Country Reports on Terrorism 2012
The PA continued to increase its capacity to combat illicit finance. Terrorist financing is not specifically addressed in current law, but the PA is drafting appropriate legislation and can prosecute terrorism-related offenses, such as financing, under current laws. The Palestinian Financial Intelligence Unit, known as the Financial Follow-up Unit, added additional staff and continued building its technical capacity while conducting outreach to other parts of the PA on anti-money laundering/countering terrorist finance. The PA, an observer to the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force, submitted its application for membership and was given an action plan for attaining membership. The banking sector in Gaza continued to repel Hamas attempts to influence and tax the sector. The PA Interior and Awqaf and Religious Affairs Ministries monitored the charitable sector for signs of abuse by terrorist organizations. According to the PA’s Palestinian Broadcasting Company’s code of conduct, no programming is allowed that encourages “violence against any person or institution on the basis of race, religion, political beliefs, or sex.” The PA continued its efforts to monitor and control the content of Friday sermons delivered in over 1,800 West Bank mosques to ensure that they do not endorse or incite violence. The PA’s ability to enforce these guidelines varies depending upon its location, and it has limited authority to control the context of sermons in Israeli-controlled Area C. JORDAN Overview: In 2012, Jordan remained a steadfast partner in counterterrorism. In addition to its diplomatic and political assistance to the Israel-Palestinian peace process, Jordan assisted the Palestinian Authority’s continued development of state institutions through law enforcement training programs at the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC). JIPTC-trained forces continued to earn the respect of regional actors for their success in maintaining security in the West Bank. The Jordanian government further developed its counterterrorism capabilities and improved its capacity. At the same time, the political reform process in Jordan initiated an open discussion of the country’s security institutions, and Jordan wrestled with the challenge of making its security organizations more transparent while maintaining their effectiveness. Security institutions have stepped up vigilance as Jordan faced the threat of spillover violence from the conflict in Syria. Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: Jordan remained committed to securing its borders and denying safe haven to terrorists within the country for attacks against its neighbors. Jordan completed the first phase of the Jordan Border Security Program (JBSP) – a sophisticated package of sensors and barriers to help improve situational awareness and prevent illicit infiltration into Jordan or unauthorized transit out of the country. The JBSP is located along the country’s northern border with Syria, an area that has historically been vulnerable to unmitigated cross-border transit. Jordan remained an important partner nation in the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance program, which also supported an expansion of the capacity of the JIPTC to provide tactical skills training courses for up to 40 ATA partner nations. Although they faced steady domestic demonstrations throughout the country, Jordanian security services remained alert and acted quickly to counter potential terrorist threats. 124
The State Security Court (SSC) is Jordan’s primary judicial body for addressing national security threats. The SSC remained the topic of intense public discussion and parliamentary debate because SSC proceedings are not open to the general public and many civil society organizations consider the SSC’s jurisdiction too broad and their procedures opaque. The Government of Jordan announced that it intends to amend the SSC law to ensure that the law is consonant with the constitutional amendments passed in September 2011; however, even if the parliament passes a law restricting the court’s jurisdiction, the court would retain authority over issues regarding terrorism. Several significant cases were adjudicated during the course of the year, including: In June, the Court of Cassation endorsed a State Security Court decision sentencing Salafi jihadist theorist, Isam Muhammad al-Utaybi, also known as Abu-Muhammad al-Maqdisi, to five years in prison. The SSC charged al-Maqdisi with plotting unsanctioned acts that would subject the kingdom to hostile acts, undermining Jordan's relations with another country, and recruiting persons inside the kingdom to join armed terrorist groups and organizations. In November, the State Security Court heard evidence in the trial of the members of the takfiri terrorist group linked to the ideology of the al-Qa'ida organization, composed of 11 members under the name "Operation of the Second 9/11," a reference to the November date of attacks at Amman hotels in 2005. Jordanian security officials successfully foiled the terrorist plan that targeted commercial malls and diplomatic missions. Regional and transnational terrorist groups, as well as local violent extremists, have demonstrated the willingness and ability to mount attacks in Jordan. In late October, Jordan's General Intelligence Department uncovered and foiled a major terrorist plot that targeted several shopping centers and cafes in Amman known to be frequented by diplomats and Westerners, as well as the U.S. Embassy. The highly sophisticated plot, orchestrated by members of al-Qa’ida in Iraq, who had recently operated in Syria, was designed to take place in several phases; first targeting commercial locations to draw the attention of security forces, and culminating in a complex attack on the U.S. Embassy involving vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers, and mortars. The plot was disrupted prior to the group moving to the operational phase. Jordanian authorities arrested all 11 members (all Jordanian citizens) believed to be involved. Countering Terrorist Finance: Jordan is a member of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force, a Financial Action Task Force-style regional body; its Financial Intelligence Unit joined the Egmont Group in 2012. Jordan actively volunteered to host training events, and hosted a number of anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism activities. For further information on money laundering and financial crimes, we refer you to the 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm. Regional and International Cooperation: Jordan is a founding member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. Countering Radicalization and Violent Extremism: Jordan has sought to confront and weaken the violent ideology that underpins al-Qa'ida and other radical organizations. Jordanian prisons 125
- Page 73 and 74: 2012 Terrorist Incidents: The year
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- Page 79 and 80: On January 24, an individual was se
- Page 81 and 82: On March 27, Venice prosecutors ord
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- Page 99 and 100: On May 25, a policeman was killed a
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- Page 105 and 106: nascent security institutions, allo
- Page 107 and 108: On March 3, a vehicle-borne IED was
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- Page 113 and 114: equired actions. There are no speci
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- Page 119 and 120: On November 21, a bomb exploded in
- Page 121 and 122: states with counterterrorism effort
- Page 123: The PASF detained terrorists in the
- Page 127 and 128: Countering Terrorist Finance: Kuwai
- Page 129 and 130: On October 3, an explosion at a Hiz
- Page 131 and 132: Overview: In 2012, Libya was marked
- Page 133 and 134: intensify cooperation with their ne
- Page 135 and 136: In December, authorities dismantled
- Page 137 and 138: territorial waters. In addition, th
- Page 139 and 140: Saudi security forces in Jizan prov
- Page 141 and 142: Overview: Tunisian security forces
- Page 143 and 144: the presidential amnesty granted af
- Page 145 and 146: Tunisia. Tunisian authorities inten
- Page 147 and 148: In March, ICE and CBP provided BCS
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- Page 151 and 152: There were a number of arrests of t
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- Page 157 and 158: established by President Karzai in
- Page 159 and 160: In December, the Indian government
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- Page 163 and 164: KYRGYZSTAN Overview: 2012 was a yea
- Page 165 and 166: Countering Terrorist Finance: Maldi
- Page 167 and 168: Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), which cont
- Page 169 and 170: Pakistan did not conclude the trial
- Page 171 and 172: organizational remnants have contin
- Page 173 and 174: Annual Report to Congress on Intern
The State Security Court (SSC) is Jordan’s primary judicial body for addressing nati<strong>on</strong>al security<br />
threats. The SSC remained the topic of intense public discussi<strong>on</strong> and parliamentary debate<br />
because SSC proceedings are not open to the general public and many civil society organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sider the SSC’s jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> too broad and their procedures opaque. The Government of<br />
Jordan announced that it intends to amend the SSC law to ensure that the law is c<strong>on</strong>s<strong>on</strong>ant with<br />
the c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al amendments passed in September 2011; however, even if the parliament passes<br />
a law restricting the court’s jurisdicti<strong>on</strong>, the court would retain authority over issues regarding<br />
terrorism. Several significant cases were adjudicated during the course of the year, including:<br />
In June, the Court of Cassati<strong>on</strong> endorsed a State Security Court decisi<strong>on</strong> sentencing<br />
Salafi jihadist theorist, Isam Muhammad al-Utaybi, also known as Abu-Muhammad<br />
al-Maqdisi, to five years in pris<strong>on</strong>. The SSC charged al-Maqdisi with plotting<br />
unsancti<strong>on</strong>ed acts that would subject the kingdom to hostile acts, undermining<br />
Jordan's relati<strong>on</strong>s with another country, and recruiting pers<strong>on</strong>s inside the kingdom to<br />
join armed terrorist groups and organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
In November, the State Security Court heard evidence in the trial of the members of<br />
the takfiri terrorist group linked to the ideology of the al-Qa'ida organizati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
composed of 11 members under the name "Operati<strong>on</strong> of the Sec<strong>on</strong>d 9/11," a reference<br />
to the November date of attacks at Amman hotels in 2005. Jordanian security officials<br />
successfully foiled the terrorist plan that targeted commercial malls and diplomatic<br />
missi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Regi<strong>on</strong>al and transnati<strong>on</strong>al terrorist groups, as well as local violent extremists, have<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strated the willingness and ability to mount attacks in Jordan. In late October, Jordan's<br />
General Intelligence Department uncovered and foiled a major terrorist plot that targeted several<br />
shopping centers and cafes in Amman known to be frequented by diplomats and Westerners, as<br />
well as the U.S. Embassy. The highly sophisticated plot, orchestrated by members of al-Qa’ida in<br />
Iraq, who had recently operated in Syria, was designed to take place in several phases; first<br />
targeting commercial locati<strong>on</strong>s to draw the attenti<strong>on</strong> of security forces, and culminating in a<br />
complex attack <strong>on</strong> the U.S. Embassy involving vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices,<br />
suicide bombers, and mortars. The plot was disrupted prior to the group moving to the<br />
operati<strong>on</strong>al phase. Jordanian authorities arrested all 11 members (all Jordanian citizens) believed<br />
to be involved.<br />
Countering Terrorist Finance: Jordan is a member of the Middle East and North Africa<br />
Financial Acti<strong>on</strong> Task Force, a Financial Acti<strong>on</strong> Task Force-style regi<strong>on</strong>al body; its Financial<br />
Intelligence Unit joined the Egm<strong>on</strong>t Group in <strong>2012</strong>. Jordan actively volunteered to host training<br />
events, and hosted a number of anti-m<strong>on</strong>ey laundering/combating the financing of terrorism<br />
activities. For further informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> m<strong>on</strong>ey laundering and financial crimes, we refer you to the<br />
2013 Internati<strong>on</strong>al Narcotics C<strong>on</strong>trol Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, M<strong>on</strong>ey Laundering<br />
and Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.<br />
Regi<strong>on</strong>al and Internati<strong>on</strong>al Cooperati<strong>on</strong>: Jordan is a founding member of the Global<br />
Counterterrorism Forum.<br />
Countering Radicalizati<strong>on</strong> and Violent Extremism: Jordan has sought to c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>t and weaken<br />
the violent ideology that underpins al-Qa'ida and other radical organizati<strong>on</strong>s. Jordanian pris<strong>on</strong>s<br />
125