Abdelrahman Ayachi (Jihadi Militant, Belgium)

• Full name: Abdelrahmin Ayachi
• Pseudonym: Abu Hajjar
• Alternatives: N/a
• Location: French, active in Syria, Belgium
• Affiliation: Falcons of the Levant Brigade [LSaS], Bassam Ayachi Network [BAN], fmr Ali Tabich Module [FAT]

Saudi-born French national Abdelrahman Ayachi (°ca 1980) was the son of infamous Syrian jihadi Bassam Ayachi.¹ For many years, he resided in Brussels where he was deeply involved in the Bassam Ayachi Network [BAN] of his father and its front, the Belgian Islamic Center [CIB; Centre Islamique Belge]. Despite his background, Ayachi was able to join the Belgian army for training.² He was eventually kicked out of the military after his associations were discovered.³

An information technology specialist who allegedly briefly owned a computer company⁴, Ayachi long maintained the Ribad.org website.⁵ He used the site to disseminate propaganda of al-Qa’ida-linked militant organizations. In January 2009, Ayachi was fined by a Belgian court for the website’s racist messaging.⁶

Following the arrest of his father by the Italian authorities in November 2008, Ayachi led the BAN and the CIB along with Ali Tabich. At the same time, he was also linked to Ali Tabich Module [FAT; Filière Ali Tabich] which helped facilitate the recruitment of several jihadis who traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq.⁷

Ayachi evaded arrest when the Belgian authorities rolled up the FAT in November 2010.⁸ In June 2012, a Belgian court sentenced him in absentia to eight years in prison for his jihadi activities.⁹ His sentence was later reduced to five years by an appeals court in February 2013.¹⁰

Ayachi traveled to Syria in the spring of 2012, where he joined the Falcons of the Levant Brigade [LSaS; Liwa Suqur al-Sham] in the Idlib governorate.¹¹ He rapidly rose through the ranks. At first, Ayachi was responsible for establishing the group’s online presence and helped raise funds through the internet.¹² He also set up a public relations office which distributed the works of important Salafi authors.¹³ By early 2013, Ayachi commanded approximately 600 LSaS fighters and administrated territory in the Idlib governorate.¹⁴ His activities appeared to have been supported by significant sections of the local population.¹⁵ Ayachi notably opposed foreign fighters active in Syria.¹⁶ He was killed in clashes with Syrian regime forces in June 2013.¹⁷