The federal government has imposed strict sanctions on Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis, a militant group behind a string of deadly attacks in Egypt's Sinai peninsula.
The group also has pledged allegiance to Islamic State.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Wednesday announced targeted financial sanctions would be applied to Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis (Supporters of the Holy House), under a United Nations resolution aimed at preventing and suppressing terrorist acts.
The listing of ABM, which earlier in February released a graphic beheading video, makes it a serious criminal offence to use or deal with the group's assets, or to make assets of any kind available either directly or indirectly.
The offence is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and attracts substantial fines.
An Egyptian court ruled in April last year that ABM was a terrorist organisation. The group declared its allegiance to Islamic State in November last year.
ABM released a video on February 10 showing the beheading of eight men from North Sinai tribes, allegedly for collaborating with Egyptian armed forces and Israeli Mossad.
The video shows eight men being decapitated by militants wearing military uniforms and disguised by black scarves around their heads, which analysts have said represented a warning to tribes in North Sinai not to collaborate with the Egyptian security forces.
Anyone who believed they held an asset that may be owned or controlled by a listed person or entity must immediately notify DFAT at asset.freezing@dfat.gov.au and the Australian Federal Police, Ms Bishop said.
Share
