The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has today tabled its report by statement on the Review of the 2022 relisting of four organisations as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code. The relistings cover Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Islamic State in Libya (IS-Libya) and Islamic State Sinai Province (IS-Sinai).

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 14 February 2023

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has today tabled its report by statement on the Review of the 2022 relisting of four organisations as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code. The relistings cover Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Islamic State in Libya (IS-Libya) and Islamic State Sinai Province (IS-Sinai). The four organisations have all been listed as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code since 2016 or earlier. The listing of the organisations, made by regulations tabled in Parliament, triggers the application of a number of offences under the Criminal Code relating to membership of, support for or association with the organisations. All four organisations seek to revive or re-establish a Caliphate within the territories they operate in and seek to do so through a militant jihadist ideology and fomentation of sectarian violence. All four organisations have expressed sentiments against Australian allies and interests. AQAP is a Yemen-based religiously motivated violent extremist group which, since its establishment in 2009, has undertaken numerous terrorist and criminal activities. A recognised affiliate of al-Qa’ida, AQAP has undertaken, attempted to conduct attacks and advocated for the undertaking of terrorist attacks within Yemen and internationally, including praising attacks against Australia’s allies. Based primarily in Pakistan, AQIS is an al-Qa’ida-affiliated religiously motivated violent extremist organisation, which seeks to advance al-Qa’ida’s objectives in South Asia. AQIS currently recruits from Muslim communities across South Asia, with its leadership based in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As an officially recognised affiliate of Islamic State, IS-Libya is a religiously motivated violent extremist organisation that has undertaken terrorist attacks and kidnappings against police and military personnel in North Africa, resulting in multiple deaths. Since its re-listing in 2019, IS Libya has undertaken multiple attacks including bombing of a police checkpoint and attacks on Libyan National Army soldiers.  Based on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, IS-Sinai is a religiously motivated violent extremist group located in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and is officially recognised by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Since its last re-listing in 2019, IS-Sinai has undertaken multiple attacks including against the Egyptian government, detonation of a gas pipeline and killing civilians and Egyptian soldiers through use of explosive devices. Chair of the Committee, Mr Peter Khalil MP, said, ‘Based on information provided, it is the view of the committee that the appropriate processes have been followed and that the four organisations meet the threshold for re-listing as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code.’ Further information on the review can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media inquiries: Chair Mr Peter Khalil MP, via Lachlan Hinds 0455 999 677 lachlan.t.hinds@aph.gov.au For background information:  Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on intelligence and Security (02) 6277 2360 pjcis@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the relistings of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Islamic State in Libya (IS-Libya) and Islamic State Sinai Province (IS-Sinai) as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (the Criminal Code).

Media release issue date: Thursday, 1 December 2022

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the relistings of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Islamic State in Libya (IS-Libya) and Islamic State Sinai Province (IS-Sinai) as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code Act 1995(the Criminal Code). The Australian Government first listed AQAP as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code on 26 November 2010 and first listed AQIS, IS-Sinai and IS-Libya with effect from 29 November 2016. AQAP was formed in 2009 and is a religiously motivated violent extremist group that is officially recognised by al-Qa’ida. While it is based in Yemen, and attacks are primarily focused on Yemeni targets, AQAP has also conducted attacks on Saudi Arabian targets as well as attempted attacks within the US and against US interests. AQIS was founded in Pakistan in 2014, it is an al-Qa'ida-affiliated religiously motivated violent extremist organisation that has historically undertaken attacks against Pakistani military and security personnel, as well as against citizens in Bangladesh. They have also advocated attacks against India. IS-Libya formed in Libya in 2014 by local returnees who had returned from Syria, IS-Libya is an officially recognised IS affiliate that promotes IS’s extreme global jihadist ideology. Its attacks have focused on a wide range of targets in North Africa. IS-Sinai is based in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. It is also a religiously motivated violent extremist group which first pledged allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in 2014. It seeks to overthrow the Egyptian government in an effort to establish an extremist Islamic state in Egypt. The relisting of these four organisations, made by regulations tabled in Parliament this week, triggers the continued application of a number of offences under the Criminal Code relating to membership of, support for or associating with the organisations. Under section 102.1A of the Criminal Code, the Committee may review listings of terrorist organisations and report its findings to each house of the Parliament within the 15 sitting day disallowance period for the regulations. Members of the public are welcome to make submissions to this review. Submissions should be provided no later than 5pm Tuesday, 31 January 2023. Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Chair Mr Peter Khalil MP, via Lachlan Hinds 0455 999 677 lachlan.t.hinds@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on intelligence and Security (02) 6277 2360 pjcis@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.