France freezes assets of two individuals for six months

The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty have ordered the freezing of assets of two men for a period of six months. The decision results from two decrees dated September 24, 2026, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0225 on September 26, 2026, under references ECOT2624552A and ECOT2625233A. It targets Mr. Mohammed MOHAMED AL HASHEM, born in Aleppo (Syria), and Mr. Mouloud BOUZIDI, born in Sétif (Algeria).

The two texts implement Articles L. 562-2 et seq. of the Monetary and Financial Code, which establish the French national asset-freezing regime. The measure runs for a period of six months from the publication of the extract in the Official Journal, and not from the signing of the decrees. Both decrees are signed jointly by the Minister of the Interior and the Minister in charge of Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty.

These decisions are part of a series of comparable measures published in the Official Journal in recent weeks, targeting natural persons or entities. Previous examples include Mr. Abdullah OZLU, born in Mersin (Turkey), on August 12, 2026; Ms. Ahlem FAKIH, born in Sidi Bel Abbes (Algeria), on September 11, 2026; Mr. Mohamed HATTAY, born in Strasbourg, on September 20, 2026; and Mr. Brahim ACHOUITAR, born in Montbéliard, on September 23, 2026.

Two natural persons targeted

The decrees precisely identify the persons concerned:

• Mr. Mohammed MOHAMED AL HASHEM, born on August 12, 1976, in Aleppo (Syria);
• Mr. Mouloud BOUZIDI, born on November 18, 1975, in Sétif (Algeria).

In both cases, the freeze applies to the funds and economic resources that belong to the targeted person, or that are owned, held, or controlled by them.

Freeze extended to controlled entities

The mechanism does not stop at personal assets. It also covers funds and economic resources belonging to, owned, held, or controlled by legal entities or any other entity themselves owned or controlled by the targeted person.

Entities acting knowingly on behalf of the interested party or on their instructions are also concerned. The scope of the measure therefore follows the relay structures, and not only the person named in the decree.

Prohibition of availability

The direct or indirect provision, as well as the use of funds or economic resources for the benefit of these persons and the entities they control, hold, or which act on their behalf, are prohibited for the same period of six months.

The prohibition therefore applies to any intermediary, and not only to the holder of the assets. Any operation falling within this scope is prohibited during the freeze period.

Challenge: two months to act

The decrees specify the means and deadlines for appeal, which are open within two months of notification:

• an informal appeal addressed to the Minister of the Interior, Direction des libertés publiques et des affaires juridiques, place Beauvau, 75800 Paris Cedex 08;
• an informal appeal addressed to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, 139, rue de Bercy, 75572 Paris Cedex 12, télédoc 233;
• a contentious appeal before the Administrative Tribunal of Paris, 7, rue de Jouy, 75181 Paris Cedex 04.

For readers, these two decrees mean that the targeted assets are now unavailable in France and that any provision, even indirect, is prohibited for six months. Operators holding funds in the name of these persons or linked entities must take this into account as of the publication in the Official Journal.

Source: Official Journal of the French Republic, JORF No. 0225 of September 26, 2026 — decrees ECOT2624552A and ECOT2625233A of September 24, 2026.