SAVE innocents lives by listing Taliban on the Terrorist Groups list.

  • by: Anonymous
  • recipient: Australian Government, United Nations Security Council

More than 50 villagers[1] are killed by Taliban, ISIL coordinated Sar-e Pul attack. A joint operation by Taliban and ISIS/ISIL led to 'massacre[2]' of more than 50 civilians in the northern province. This is what local official says about a week ago and now what they have found in last two days were more horrifying news which were published by media around the globe include Routers, SBS Australia, and The Independent on how dozens of civilians been killed in 'brutal, inhumane way'[3]. The mass grave containing the bodies of at least 62 people was discovered by Afghan Police. "Most of the victims were beheaded[4]," according to Mr Amani.

This is clearly an act of terrorism, targeting civilians include children which Taliban and ISIS has cooperate responsibility[5].

The question is, while ISIS is listed as a terrorist organisation by the Australia, United States, Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand[6], why Taliban is yet[7] to be listed as a Terrorist organisation?

Division 102 of the Criminal Code[8] provides that for an organisation to be listed as a terrorist organisation, the Attorney-General must be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the organisation:

is directly or indirectly engaged in, preparing, planning, or assisting in or fostering the doing of a terrorist act; or
advocates the doing of a terrorist act.
For the purposes of listing a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code, the doing of a terrorist act includes the doing of a specific terrorist act, the doing of more than one terrorist act and the doing of a terrorist act, even if a terrorist act does not occur.

"terrorist act " means an action or threat of action where:

(a)…….

(b) the action is done or the threat is made with the intention of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause; and

(c) the action is done or the threat is made with the intention of:

(i) coercing, or influencing by intimidation, the government of the Commonwealth or a State, Territory or foreign country, or of part of a State, Territory or foreign country; or

(ii) intimidating the public or a section of the public.

Has really Taliban done any terrorist act?

Let see if Taliban falls within the definition of the terrorist act under Division 102 of the Criminal Code[9]. Under Division 102 of the CRIMINAL CODE ACT 1995, an organisation or a group can fall within this definition if they are engaged with an action or threat of action where the action causes serious physical harm to a person; or causes serious damage to property; or causes a person's death; and is done with the intention of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause; and with the intention of coercing, or influencing by intimidation, the government of a foreign country or intimidating the public or a section of the public[10]. Taliban simply meets these criteria.

How Taliban meets the criteria?

here are some examples of Taliban attacks on civilians include Australian or other International community and organisations which caused serious damages to the local and the international property include Australian enterprises and organisation, killed civilians include Australian with the intention to advance their political, religious and ideological cause and intimidate public and international community;

1. September 2006: Taliban's suicide bombings and roadside attacks become more frequent and deadlier, nearly 100[11] are reported to have killed from such violence in August and September.

2. February 2008: About 80 people are killed[12] and nearly 100 injured when a suicide bomber attacks a crowd watching dogfight near Kandahar.

3. August 2008: As many as 15 suicide bombers backed by about 30 Taliban fighters attack a US military base, Camp Salerno, in Bamiyan. 10 French paratroopers are killed and more than 20 are wounded[13].

4. May 2017: a suicide bombing killed eight civilians in an attack on a convoy of NATO armoured personnel vehicles. The blast hit during the morning rush hour in one of Kabul's busiest areas. Officials said at least 25 people were wounded.

5. March 2017: ISIS-Taliban attacked the Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan Hospital, killed more than 50 people and wounding dozens.

6. Feb 2017: At least 20 people were killed and 41 wounded in a bomb blast outside the Supreme Court in the centre of Kabul.

7. Jan 2017: Thirty-three people were killed and more than 70 wounded in a Taliban attack near an annexe to the Parliament. Most of the victims were parliamentary staff members.

8. Nov 2016: a suicide attack on a crowded mosque in Kabul that killed more than 30 people and wounded dozens, its third major attack on minority Shi'ites in the Afghan capital since July.

9. Oct 2016: At least 18 were killed in a mass shooting at a shrine of Shi'ite Muslims in Kabul.

10. Sept 2016: A twin suicide bombing killed 35 people and wounded 103.

11. Aug 2016: Thirteen people, including students and a professor, were killed in a Taliban attack on the American University in Kabul.

12. July 2016: Twin explosions tore through a demonstration by members of Afghanistan's mainly Shi'ite Hazara minority in Kabul, killed at least 80 people and wounded more than 230[14].

Why bother, they were not Australian, right?

Not quite, Taliban had targeted Australian civilians, enterprises, organisations, army personnel and interests around the world, here are some examples;

1. Jan 2016: Taliban attacked TOLO TV founded by an Australian, killed seven and wounded more than 20 people[15].

2. Sept 2014: another Australian, Sayed Habib Mousawi[16], was murdered in rural Afghanistan by Taliban.

3. Dec 2014: a distinguished Australian[17] musicologist, Dr Ahmad Sarmast, was injured in a suicide bomber attacked at the French-supported Istiqlal High School.

Why the world hesitates to declare Taliban a Terrorist Groups?

The reason why isn't Taliban on the list of terrorist groups yet, is mainly political, let examine this from the US government's point of view. An organisation or group can be declared and listed on terrorist groups if a foreign group engaged in terrorism and threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security of the United States[18]. I assume, the world still remembers the 9/11 attack on US mainland, Although the attack was executed by Al-Qaida but Al-Qaida was hosted by Taliban in Afghanistan, therefore, Taliban provided facilities, camps and training for Al-Qaida insurgencies. This led to the US to lead an attack on Afghanistan. Taliban also had attacked US civilians and corps, as I mentioned earlier. Therefore, the Taliban meet both criteria. "Yet, political expedience has obligated keeping the group off the list of 61 organizations ranging from the Afghanistan branch of the Islamic State group to the Palestinian group Hamas, experts say". [19] Gen. John Nicholson, told that the question of whether the Taliban should be designated as a terrorist organization "is an important one for the [new] administration to consider and it will be part of our conversation with them as the weeks unfold[20]."

Is it the right time for the world to list Taliban on the terrorists' groups?

This is the question that Trump administration also asked, the world leaders yet to make a decision due to some political factors and concerns. BUT with this petition, WE can ASK them to consider this and make the world a safer place.

How declaring and listing Taliban on List of Terrorist Groups would make the world safer place?

Maley and Savage (2016[21]) concluded that "significant consequences flow from such listing". According to Australian National Security[22] "Under Division 102 of the Criminal Code, it is an offence to do things such as direct the activities of, be a member of, recruit for, provide training to, receive training from or participate in training with, provide funds to or receive funds from or provide support to, a terrorist organisation. It is also an offence to associate with a member of a listed terrorist organisation in certain circumstances where such association intentionally provides support to that organisation." It follows that "information indicating links to Australia or threats to Australian interests may tend to prioritise consideration of listing a particular group as a terrorist organisation"[23].

By having the Taliban listed on the designated terrorist group, all Australian who fighting on the Taliban's side would be liable to prosecution under the Crimes (Foreign Incursions and Recruitment) Act 1978. On top of this, adding the Taliban to the terrorist organisation list would cut funding to this group and make it clear that providing funds to support the Taliban would be a serious terrorism offence. Of course, without funding Taliban won't last long which as a result, the war against terror in Afghanistan will cost less on the world community and Australian Tax payer.

UN Security Council already imposed some sanctions against the Taliban by resolutions 1988, 2082 and 2160 but it is not enough. The world must say and say it LOUD that ENOUGH is ENOUGH and having global ban and sanction on terrorists.

It would make it politically easier for the world leaders to pressure foreign governments and organisations backing the Taliban. The U.S, NATO, ISAF and Afghan government have long accused Pakistan of sheltering the Taliban.

Now, we need your help to save innocents lives, the life of children and women! please sign this petition and ask your MPs and Australian Parliament to declare the Taliban as a terrorist group. If you are living overseas, please choose your country and we could provide you with a copy of petition to be delivered to your MPs or Parliament.



Source:
[1] The Guardian, 06th August 2017, 'Insurgents kill up to 50 Afghan villagers in northern province',
[2]Aljazeera, 07th August 2017, 'Officials: Taliban, ISIL coordinated Sar-e Pul attack',
[3] The independent, 'Dozens of civilians killed in 'brutal, inhumane way' in Afghanistan', 7 August 2017,
[4] SBS News, 'A mass grave containing the bodies of at least 36 victims, most of them beheaded, has been uncovered in a northern province of Afghanistan', 17th August 2017,
[5] Reuters, 16th August 2017, 'Afghan police discover mass graves after village attack',
[6] The Australian National Security, 'Islamic State',
[7] The Australian National Security,
[8] The Criminal Code,
[9] The Criminal Code,
[10] The Criminal Code,
[11] Aljazeera, March 2009,'Timeline: Taliban in Afghanistan',
[12] Aljazeera, March 2009, 'Timeline: Taliban in Afghanistan',
[13] Aljazeera, March 2009, 'Timeline: Taliban in Afghanistan',
[14] The Global and Mail, 31th May 2017,'A timeline of major attacks on Kabul in the past year',
[15] The Sydney Morning Herald, 29th Jan 2016, 'Time for Australia to ban Taliban terrorists',
[16] The Sydney Morning Herald, 29th Jan 2016, 'Time for Australia to ban Taliban terrorists',
[17] The Sydney Morning Herald, 29th Jan 2016, 'Time for Australia to ban Taliban terrorists',
[18]Voice of America(VOA),20th Feb 2017, 'Why Isn't Afghan Taliban on US List of Foreign Terror Groups?',
[19]Voice of America(VOA),20th Feb 2017, 'Why Isn't Afghan Taliban on US List of Foreign Terror Groups?',
[20]Voice of America(VOA),20th Feb 2017, 'Why Isn't Afghan Taliban on US List of Foreign Terror Groups?',
[21] William Maley and David Savage, 29th Jan 2016, 'Time for Australia to ban Taliban terrorists',
[22] Australian National Security,
[23] Australian National Security,

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