STATUS UNKNOWN
- Full name: Mesut Sen
- Pseudonym: “Khalil”, Abdul Razaq
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: Belgium, fmr Pakistan, fmr Afghanistan
- Affiliation: Base Organization [al-Qa’ida]
Mesut Sen (°1980) is a Turkish-born jihadi from Brussels. He acquired Belgian citizenship as a child in 1985.1 Following his high school graduation, Sen became devoted to jihad under the influence of an unidentified Brussels-based imam.2
In November 2000, Sen traveled to Afghanistan via Hamburg and Karachi.3 He was accompanied by known al-Qa’ida operatives on his journey, including Mohammed Zammar.4 In Afghanistan, Sen stayed at an al-Qa’ida-ran guesthouse in Jalalabad.5 He reportedly received religious instruction and training in bomb making and weapons handling.6
Sen fled Afghanistan following American military successes against Taliban forces in late 2001. In December 2001, Pakistani security forces apprehended him in the city of Peshawar.7 The Pakistani authorities subsequently handed Sen over to the American army. He was transferred to the military holding facility at Guantanamo Bay in January 2002.8
In April 2005, the American army released Sen and deported him to Belgium.9 Belgian authorities charged him with membership of a terrorist organization upon his arrival in the country.10 In May 2009, all charges were dropped. His current status is unknown.
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