US sanctions three far-left networks in Italy, Britain and beyond
Synopsis
Washington has widened its counterterrorism sanctions net to explicitly target far-left and pro-Palestinian networks, designating organisations in Italy, Britain, and multiple other countries in a single coordinated action. The move, invoking Executive Order 13224, signals a deliberate policy shift — placing digital-infrastructure providers and activist groups in the same sanctions frame as militant organisations.
Key Takeaways
The US Treasury sanctioned three organisations — Autistici Inventati (Italy), Palestine Action (Britain), and Masar Badil (transnational) — on 27 August 2025 .
Two Masar Badil officials, Zaid Abdulnasser (Germany) and Rawa Alsagheer (Brazil), were also personally designated.
Autistici Inventati is accused of providing digital services — including encrypted email and web hosting — to groups aligned with the PKK .
Palestine Action was already proscribed under British terrorism law in July 2025 ; the US designation reinforces that action.
Masar Badil is described as linked to Samidoun , itself sanctioned in October 2024 as a front for the PFLP , designated a foreign terrorist organisation since 1997 .
The sanctions freeze US-held assets and bar Americans from transacting with any of the designated entities.
The United States on 27 August 2025 imposed counterterrorism sanctions on three organisations — Autistici Inventati (Italy), Palestine Action (Britain), and the transnational body Masar Badil — accusing them of supporting violent far-left groups and Palestinian militant networks. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the designations, which also cover two individual officials linked to Masar Badil.
What the Sanctions Cover
The designations freeze any property or financial interests held by the named parties in the United States or under the control of US persons. Americans are broadly prohibited from conducting transactions involving any of the designated entities or individuals.
Two Masar Badil officials were also personally sanctioned: Zaid Abdulnasser, based in Germany, and Rawa Alsagheer, based in Brazil. The designations extend to entities owned — directly or indirectly — by 50 per cent or more by any blocked person.
What Each Organisation Is Accused Of
Autistici Inventati, the Italy-based group, is accused of providing specialised digital infrastructure to violent left-wing organisations, including website hosting, encrypted email, video conferencing, and its 'Noblogs' platform. According to the Treasury, the group supplied these services to outfits it considered ideologically aligned, including the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) — designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, Britain, and the European Union.
Palestine Action was sanctioned over incidents in Britain involving break-ins at defence facilities and military installations, injuries to law enforcement officers, and damage to equipment. The Treasury said the organisation had promoted its actions on social media and actively encouraged similar tactics internationally, including in the United States and along the US-Mexico border. Britain had already proscribed Palestine Action under its terrorism law in July 2025; Wednesday's US designation complements that action.
Masar Badil was described by the Treasury as a transnational organisation linked to the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, which the United States and Canada sanctioned in October 2024, identifying it as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The PFLP has been designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US since 1997. According to the Treasury, Masar Badil and Samidoun share fundraising mechanisms, senior leaders, and executive committee members, and are considered part of the same political project.
What the Treasury Secretary Said
'Far-left extremists, their fronts, and their enablers should be on notice: We will bring the full weight of our economic tools to bear,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. 'Political terrorism has no place in our society, and we will continue to cut the financial lifelines of these groups until they are eliminated,' he added.
Legal Authority Invoked
The action was taken under Executive Order 13224, the principal US legal instrument used to target terrorists, their supporters, and associated financial networks. This is a broad authority that has been deployed repeatedly since the post-9/11 era to disrupt organisations the US considers threats to national security.
The coordinated nature of the designations — spanning organisations in Italy, Britain, Germany, Brazil, and other countries — signals a widening of Washington's counterterrorism lens beyond Islamist networks to include far-left and pro-Palestinian activist structures.
Point of View
A tech-collective, in the same sanctions tier as PFLP-linked entities raises hard questions about where the line sits between material support and political expression. The Palestine Action designation, coming weeks after Britain's own proscription, also points to growing transatlantic coordination on policing pro-Palestinian activism — a trend that will draw scrutiny from civil liberties groups on both sides of the Atlantic. Whether these designations survive legal challenge, particularly in European jurisdictions, remains an open question.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which organisations did the US sanction on 27 August 2025?
The US Treasury designated three organisations: Autistici Inventati (Italy), Palestine Action (Britain), and Masar Badil (transnational). Two Masar Badil officials — Zaid Abdulnasser and Rawa Alsagheer — were also personally sanctioned.
What does a US Treasury designation actually mean?
A designation under Executive Order 13224 freezes any assets or financial interests the named parties hold in the United States or under the control of US persons. Americans are broadly prohibited from conducting any transactions with designated entities or individuals.
Why was Palestine Action sanctioned by the US?
The Treasury cited incidents in Britain involving break-ins at defence facilities, injuries to law enforcement officers, and damage to equipment. It also said Palestine Action promoted similar tactics internationally, including in the United States. Britain had already proscribed the group under its terrorism law in July 2025.
What is the connection between Masar Badil and the PFLP?
According to the US Treasury, Masar Badil is linked to the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, which the US and Canada sanctioned in October 2024 as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The PFLP has been a designated foreign terrorist organisation in the US since 1997.
What was Autistici Inventati accused of?
The Italy-based group was accused of providing digital infrastructure — including website hosting, encrypted email, video conferencing, and its 'Noblogs' platform — to violent left-wing organisations, including groups aligned with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist organisation by the US, UK, and EU.
