Gelel Atar (Jihadi Militant, Belgium)

• Full name: Gelel Atar
• Pseudonym: Abu Ibrahim
• Alternatives: N/a
• Location: Morocco (imprisoned)
• Affiliation: Islamic State of Iras and the Levant [DaIISh], Khalid Zerkani Network [KZN], fmr Holy Warriors Consultative Council [MSM]

Gelel Atar (°1989) is an Italian-born Belgian jihadi of Moroccan descent. He hails from a family of known radical Islamists. Atar grew up in northern Italy, although he spent time in Belgium as well.¹ In December 2011, he took up residence in Molenbeek.² Relatives introduced him to the local jihadi community.

Atar soon joined the Khalid Zerkani Network [KZN] and quickly became a trusted deputy of the group’s leader.³ He organized meetings of the network’s senior operatives at his residence.⁴ At the same time, Atar recruited jihadis to fight in Iraq.⁵ He was also instrumental in providing religious justification for the network’s involvement in crime.⁶ Belgian authorities put him under surveillance in April 2012, but no further action was undertaken.⁷

In early January 2013, Atar first traveled to Syria. He linked up with the foreign fighters’ branch of Amr al-Absi’s Holy Warriors Consultative Council [MSM; Majlis Shura al-Mujahideen] near Aleppo.⁸ Atar reportedly received military training during his stay.⁹ He returned to Europe a few months later.¹⁰

Over the next years, Atar traveled between Belgium, Morocco and Syria.¹¹ He joined the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham] after the MSM had merged into the organization.¹² During his stays in Syria, Atar reportedly established close contacts to senior figures within the DaIISh.¹³

As the authorities cracked down on the KZN, Atar was charged with terrorism. In July 2015, a court sentenced him in absentia to five years in prison.¹⁴ Moroccan police eventually arrested Atar near the city of Mohammadia in January 2016.¹⁵ He remains in Moroccan custody.