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11/02/2024 02:19:18 pm

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UN Security Council To Make Joining Terrorist Groups Illegal

ISIS forces in Iraq

(Photo : Reuters )

The United Nations Security Council proposed a resolution on Monday to address the growing problem of foreign terrorism by compelling countries to make it illegal for citizens to recruit, organize, transport or equip foreign fighters.

The draft resolution is a reaction to the growing number of extremist fighters among terrorist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) and al-Qaeda.

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Invoking Chapter 7 of the U.N Charter, the United States released a draft resolution to prevent foreign fighters from joining the ranks of extremist militant groups like the ISIS by ensuring it becomes a serious criminal offense under domestic laws.

The resolution essentially gives the Security Council increased power to authorize economic sanctions over UN members that will not penalize citizens who have apparent intentions to participate in terrorism activities. It does not, however, mandate the mobilization of military force to tackle foreign terrorism.

"The resolution will impose new binding obligations on countries to take action against foreign fighters, to prevent the facilitation of travel by foreign fighters and stop suspects," said a Whitehouse official.

If approved, the resolution will require passenger airlines to forward information to appropriate authorities should they suspect any irregularity in the departure or entry of any individual in UN-sanctioned countries.

It will also require states to prevent the entry or exit of anyone suspected of seeking to join extremist militant groups.

Sources speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the U.S.-proposed resolution is likely to be agreed upon come September 24, when President Barack Obama will convene the Security Council to tackle the issue of foreign extremism.

There seems to be a consensus among the 15 members of the Security Council to pass the resolution, a U.S. official told Reuters.

Peter Neumann, a leading expert on terrorism, met with the Security Council this week to reveal that at least 12,000 recruits from 74 countries travelled to Iraq and Syria to wage armed jihad in the last three years.

The Syrian conflict is the "most significant mobilization of foreign fighters that has ever taken place in living memory," Neumann said.

Just last year, Turkey has barred around 4,000 suspected militants from entering the country through a similar policy.

The present draft hopes to decrease the number of foreign recruits ISIS attracts from the Middle East and Western countries.

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