UN calls Osama bin Laden's son next boss of al-Qaida; blacklists Hamza
New Delhi : The UN Security Council has declared Hamza bin Laden, the son of Al Qaida chief Osama bin Laden, under blacklist queue subjecting him to a travel ban, assets freeze and an arms embargo as it described him as the "most probable successor" of the group's current leader Aiman al-Zawahiri.
The UN Security Council's 1267 ISIS and al Qaida Sanctions Committee listed 29-year-old Hamza bin Laden, the day the US announced a reward of up to one million dollars for information about him.
Saudi Arab government also announced it had revoked the citizenship of Hamza bin Laden via a royal decree in November.
A Security Council press release said al-Zawahiri has announced that the Saudi Arabia-born Hamza bin Laden is an official member of al Qaida. Hamza bin Laden has called for followers of Al-Qaida to commit terror attacks. Is seen as the most probable successor of al-Zawahiri, the powerful 15-member Council said.
An assets freeze under the Sanctions Committee mentions that all states freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.
The travel ban includes preventing the entry into or transit by all states through their territories by designated individuals.
Under the arms embargo, all states are required to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale and transfer from their territories or by their nationals outside their territories, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related material of all types, spare parts, and technical advice, assistance, or training related to military activities, to designated individuals and entities.
Just hours before the UNSC Sanctions Committee designated Hamza bin Laden, the US State Department's Rewards for Justice Program announced a reward for up to USD 1 million for information leading to his identification or location in any country, saying he is emerging as a leader in the al Qaida franchise.
"Since at least August 2015, he has released audio and video messages on the Internet calling on his followers to launch attacks against the United States and its Western allies, and he has threatened attacks against the United States in revenge for the May 2011 killing of his father by U.S. service members, the State Department said.
Earlier in January 2017, the State Department had listed Hamza bin Laden as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, freezing all of his assets based in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons. The designation also prohibited US persons from engaging in transactions with him.
