Turkey lists al-Nusra Front as terrorist organization

Turkey has listed the al-Nusra Front, a branch of al-Qaeda operating in Syria and Lebanon, as a terrorist organization following an update of a Cabinet motion on June 3.

According to the Official Gazette, the appendix of a Cabinet motion dated Sept. 30, 2013, involving the freezing of assets of individuals and organizations listed by the United Nations Security Council, has been updated. The appendix added Agus Dwikarna to the list of “individuals who are affiliated with al-Qaeda” and al-Nusra to the list of “organizations that are affiliated with al-Qaeda.”

Objections can be made to the Council of State against the motion within 60 days by referring to Article 5 of the Turkish Law to Prevent the Financing of Terrorism.

Al-Nusra was listed as terrorist organization by the United States in December 2012. Several other countries, such as Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as the United Nations, also recognize it as a terrorist organization.

Dwikarna is a Jemaah Islamiyah member and facilitator for al-Qaeda in Indonesia, according to the United Nations.

Thousands of European jihadists have recently been blacklisted by Ankara amid accusations that Turkey turned a blind eye to Islamist militants who are heading to Syria through Turkey.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIS), another al-Qaeda offshoot, has also become a threat to Turkey in recent times, while also fighting against al-Nusra in Syria.