The Central Bank of Jordan has retracted a day-old order to refuse business from six top Hamas leaders and five charities raising money for the Palestinians.
The change in policy followed the release of a Hamas statement to AP on Tuesday, September 16, 2003, condemning "the fact that Jordan has become the first Arab and Muslim country to take such a step that has no justification other than implementing American dictates."
The bank’s appeal urged financial institutions to abide by the decision taken by the central bank earlier this month to "freeze any dealing" with Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and five other members of the group. Jordan’s Information Minister Nabil Al-Sharif told Petra that the measures were “for banking purposes only” carrying no "political dimensions."
Jordan’s efforts to curb terrorist funding followed similar attempts by the United States and the European Union. In 2001, The US Department of State issued a terrorist exclusion list (TEL) that designated 39 groups, charities, and companies as ‘supporters of terrorism’ that would be subject to specific visa restrictions. In 2003, nine more groups were added to the list. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
