Appendix F – Statement of Reasons –  Jamiat ul-Ansar (JuA)

Appendix F – Statement of Reasons –  Jamiat ul-Ansar (JuA)

(Also known as: Al-Faran, Al-Hadid, Al-Hadith, Harakat ul-Ansar, Harakat ul‑Mujahideen, Harakat ul-Mujahidin, HuA, HuM)

The following information is based on publicly available details about Jamiat ul‑Ansar (JuA), formerly known as Harakat ul-Mujahideen (HuM), the name that is still commonly used for the group.  To the Australian Government’s knowledge, these details are accurate and reliable and have been corroborated by classified information. 

Basis for listing a terrorist organisation

Division 102 of the Criminal Code provides that for an organisation to be listed as a terrorist organisation, the Attorney-General must be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the organisation:

(a)    is directly or indirectly engaged in, preparing, planning, assisting in or fostering the doing of a terrorist act (whether or not a terrorist act has occurred or will occur); or

(b)   advocates the doing of a terrorist act (whether or not a terrorist act has occurred or will occur).

Details of the organisation

Objectives

JuA wants to unite all of Kashmir with Pakistan and establish a caliphate based on Sharia law.  JuA has advocated the use of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons against India, and opposes efforts to normalise relations between the two countries.

JuA also has pledged support for Afghan militants fighting Coalition forces in Afghanistan.  Some elements within JuA have wanted to re-focus their activities and bring them more into line with Usama bin Laden’s global jihad against the US and Israel and their allies.

Leadership

The leader of JuA is Fazlur Rehman (sometimes Rahman) Khalil (also known as Maulana Farzul Ahmed Khalil and Maulana Ahmed Khalil).

In 1991, Khalil and his followers split from Harakat ul-Jihad Islami (HuJI), a group that fought the Soviets in Afghanistan and later turned its attention to Indian‑administered Kashmir to form Harakat ul-Mujahideen (HuM).  In 1993, HuM reunited with HuJI under the name Harakat ul-Ansar (HuA).

As a consequence of reports that link the group to al-Qa’ida, HuA was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the United States in 1997.  The group re‑adopted the name HuM to escape the ramifications of proscription.

HuM was banned by both the US and Pakistan following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks and adopted the name Jamiat ul-Ansar (JuA).  JuA also was subsequently banned by Pakistan in November 2003.

Membership

JuA has been reported to have strength of no more than a few hundred but exact membership numbers cannot be determined with accuracy.  The majority of JuA’s membership is drawn from Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir.

JuA also has attracted recruits and provided training to Islamist militants from around the world, including Bangladesh, South-East Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Terrorist activity of the organisation

Directly or indirectly engaged in terrorist acts

Directly or indirectly preparing and/or planning terrorist acts

Directly or indirectly assisting in the doing of terrorist acts


Directly or indirectly fostering and/or advocating the doing of terrorist acts

Conclusion

In view of the above information, ASIO assesses JuA is continuing to directly and indirectly engage in, prepare, plan, assist in and foster the doing of terrorist acts, and advocates the doing of, terrorist acts.  This assessment is corroborated by information provided by reliable and credible intelligence sources, as well as by the terrorist acts conducted by JuA in the past.

In the course of pursuing its objective of uniting Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan under a radical interpretation of Islamic law, JuA is known to have engaged in or advocated actions that:

Other relevant information

Links to other terrorist groups or networks

JuA has cooperated with other militant groups operating in Afghanistan, Kashmir and Pakistan such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e‑Muhammad, and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan.

JuA leader Khalil has strong ties to the Taliban and al-Qa’ida and in 1998 signed Usama bin Laden’s fatwa calling for attacks on the US and its allies.

Proscription by the UN and other countries 

JuA is listed in the United Nations 1267 Committee’s consolidated list and by the governments of Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Pakistan.


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