PJCIS to review relisting of two terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code

Parliament of Australia

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the relisting of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and Islamic State Khorasan Province as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Criminal Code).

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is an al-Qa’ida aligned Salafi-Jihadist organisation based in Mali and active in West Africa. JNIM was first listed as a terrorist organisation in 2020 following the merger of the terrorist organisation al-Murabitun into JNIM. Since its listing in 2020, JNIM has conducted attacks against both foreign and state security forces, striving to build a Salafi-Islamic state.

Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) is a violent extremist group that also adheres to Salafi jihadist ideology. Since its relisting in 2020, the organisation has shifted its strategic operation towards urban warfare in Afghanistan and parts of north-west Pakistan, promoting itself as a globally motivated jihadist group committed to establishing a global caliphate.

The relisting of the two organisations triggers the ongoing application of a number of offences under the Criminal Code relating to membership of, support for, or association with the organisations.

Section 102.1A of the Criminal Code provides that the Committee may review listings of terrorist organisations and report its findings to each house of Parliament within the 15 sitting day disallowance period.

Members of the public are welcome to make submissions to this review. Submissions should be provided no later than Thursday 23 November 2023.

/Public Release.