(Trinidad Guardian) High Court judge Maria Wilson has ordered that Osama Bin Laden’s son, Hamza Bin Laden, be named a terrorist in this country, and have all his assets frozen.
The order was made on March 6.
On March 1, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi filed the matter in the High Court in accordance with Section 22B of the Anti-Terrorism Act Chapter 12:07.
On that same day, Saudi Arabia announced that it had revoked Bin Laden’s citizenship.
The recent developments have come about in light of the United States offering US$1 million for information on Bin Laden’s whereabouts.
Bin Laden, 30, is seen as an emerging leader of the Al-Qaida, the Islamist militant group his late father once led.
Bin Laden has called on Al-Qaida followers to attack the US and its Western allies in revenge for his father’s killing.
In 2011, Bin Laden’s father Osama was killed by US special forces while he was living in hiding in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Earlier this month Bin Laden he had a statement issued by Al-Qaida media, in which he spoke of the role of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, threatened Saudi Arabia and called for revolt the population of the Arabian Peninsula.
According to the High Court documents filed by Al-Rawi, “Hamza also known as Usama also known as Muhammad also known as Bin Laden” was born on 9 May, 1989.
“(He was) announced by Aiman Muhammed Rabi al-Zawahiri as an official member of Al-Qaida. Has called for followers of Al-Qaida to commit terror attacks. Is seen as the most probable successor of al-Zawahiri,” the High Court order stated.
Al-Zawahiri is the current leader of the Al-Qaida.
According the United Nations Security Council, Bin Laden made the Sanctions List “for having contributed to the financing, to the organization, the facilitation, preparation or execution of acts or activities of Al-Qaida, in association with this group, under its name or on its behalf or in support of it, and have recruited on behalf of Al-Qaida or otherwise supported acts committed by Al-Qaida or activities to which it relates indicating that it is associated with this group”.
Wilson ordered that pursuant to Section 22B (3) (b) of the Anti-Terrorism Act that property:
(i) owned or controlled by Bin Laden,
(ii) wholly or jointly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Bin Laden; and
(iii) derived or generated from funds or other assets owned or controlled directly or indirectly by Bin Laden, be frozen.
The Financial Intelligence Unit had the order on the consolidated list on its website.
Al-Rawi has to review the situation every six months in accordance with Section 22B(9) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
In November 2015, an Anti-Terrorism Desk was established by the Ministry of the Attorney General to serve as “the authorised facilitating hub for tight coordination among domestic legal, law enforcement and intelligence agencies and collaboration with our international partners”.
The High Court has granted over 350 orders in Trinidad and Tobago against individuals and entities since then.
More about Hamza
In March 2018, Bin Laden had a statement issued by Al-Qaida media, in which he spoke of the role of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, threatened Saudi Arabia and called for revolt the population of the Arabian Peninsula.
In January 2018, Bin Laden broadcast a video recording on behalf of Al-Qaida, aimed at recruiting among the listeners, in which he attacked Saudi Arabia and advocated the overthrow of the monarchy.
In May 2017, Bin Laden broadcast an audio message, also on behalf of al-Qaida, in which he asked supporters to commit attacks.
In 2016, Al-Qaida broadcast another audio message in which Bin Laden was threatening revenge against the United States of America and warned Americans that they would be targeted in their country and abroad. In addition, the same year, Bin Laden encouraged tribes living in Saudi Arabia to join al-Qaida-affiliated elements in Yemen to wage a war against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In 2015, Bin Laden called for attacking American, French and Israeli interests by committing acts of terrorism in the capitals of Western countries on behalf of al-Qaida.
Hamza bin Laden has been given a more prominent role in Al-Qaida and is believed to be able to carry out his threats. His popularity is growing among Al-Qaida supporters and he is most likely to take over at the head of a new al-Qaida. It seeks to expand Al-Qaida’s network and, by means of a new wave of terrorist attacks in major cities in the West, to increase its notoriety and to announce the return of Al-Qaida, of which it would be the new chef.