TEMPO.CO, Jakarta- United Arab Emirates' banks have been banned from doing business with some Islamist groups including the Muslim Brotherhood and their representatives as the UAE's central bank froze the suspected terrorist accounts for up to seven days.
The UAE government said it was stepping up efforts to cut off financing to groups it classifies as terrorist. The move was announced on the prime minister's website, which did not mention specific groups.
As reported by Reuters, questioned about the new rules, the head of the UAE Banks Federation said lenders had been told not to do business with the UAE branch of the Egypt-based Brotherhood and with Al-Islah, a local Islamist group banned in the UAE for alleged links to the Brotherhood.
"This is enforcing anti-money laundering. Banks have to look to this legislation and comply. They're considered terrorist groups," said Abdul Aziz al-Ghurairon the sidelines of a banking conference in Dubai.
Last Saturday the UAE designated 85 organizations as terrorist groups including the Brotherhood, Islamic State and other Shi'ite militant groups such as Yemen's Houthi movement.
The Brotherhood has been a source of friction between Gulf Arab states, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain having recalled their ambassadors from Doha over Qatar's support for the group.
REUTERS | ABC NEWS | DWI ARJANTO
