Al-Qaeda Affiliate Al-Shabab Rebuts U.S. Treasury's Recent Designation As Baseless; Accuses Washington Of Looting Muslims' Wealth

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On March 13, 2024, the press office of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabab), issued a statement in English, titled: "U.S. Plunders Muslims' Wealth And Property Under Flimsy Pretexts."[1]

The one-page statement is a rebuttal of the March 11 U.S. Treasury designation of 16 entities and individuals who compose an expansive business network spanning from the Horn of Africa, through the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Cyprus – a network, according to the U.S. Treasury, that raises and launders funds for Al-Shabab.[2]

Denying any links with these designated individuals and entities, the statement said that Al-Shabab "categorically denies the baseless statement by the U.S. Department of Treasury, alleging that a network of individuals and entities designated as money launders in the UAE and East Africa were working at the direction and in the interests of the Mujahideen. Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen remains unequivocal in its denial of this baseless accusation, reaffirming that the network of individuals and entities mentioned by the U.S. Department of Treasury have no connection, business transaction or trade deals whatsoever with the Mujahideen."

Further, the statement emphasized that the group "will not allow its name to be used as a pretext to persecute innocent Muslims and plunder their wealth."

It accused the U.S. government of taking "predatory measures in order to harass and persecute Muslim communities around the world and appropriate their wealth, all under the most flimsy and ludicrous of pretexts."

"9/11 Commission Found No Links Between Jihadis & Companies"

In support of its argument, the statement cited previous measures allegedly taken by the U.S. Treasury, including "its seizure of wealth and assets and the closure of companies belonging to Somali Muslims following the launch of its [the U.S.'s] crusade against Islam in 2001, at a time when Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen had not even been established."

It added that, at the time the U.S. government claimed that those companies helped funnel millions of dollars to Al-Shabab Movement, no links were ever found between these companies and the group, according to the statement.

Citing the 9/11 Commission report, the statement added: "Even the 9/11 Commission found the U.S. claim to be baseless, and cited no direct evidence that any of companies whose assets were frozen had any involvement whatsoever in the funding of Jihadi activities, forcing the U.S. government to admit to its transgression and remove them from its so-called terror list. But even after admitting to such an egregious offence, the U.S. government still failed to reimburse the innocent Muslims, make full restitution to the victims or return the wealth and assets it had confiscated."

"Designation Is Part Of U.S. War On Islam, Similar To Nazi Looting"

Framing the U.S. Treasury's designation as an extension of the American war on Islam, and as a systematic plundering of Muslims' wealth similar to Nazi looting of Jewish property and countries' national assets, the statement said:

"Asset seizures and the confiscation of Muslim wealth and property is an integral part of the typical American triumph in its war against Islam. The systematic manner in which the U.S. government attempts to plunder the wealth of Muslims and the deceptive methods it employs are similar to the tactics used by Hitler during the Nazi plunder of Europe. Only this time, the U.S. Department of Treasury has replaced the Kunstschutz [i.e., Nazi looting] and the Muslims are bearing the full brunt of this great injustice."

In conclusion, the statement called on all Muslims "to defend and safeguard their property and wealth from the predatory policies of the disbelieving nations and at the top of them the United States.

"Muslims should know that the disbelievers are intent on plundering their wealth in order to keep the Muslims in a cycle of destitution and poverty that would eventually facilitate their colonization and humiliation."