Nizar Trabelsi (Jihadi Militant, Belgium)

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Full name: Nizar Trabelsi
Pseudonym: N/a
Alternatives: N/a
Location: America, fmr Belgium, fmr Afghanistan, fmr Germany, fmr Tunisia
Affiliation: Base Organization [al-Qa’ida], fmr Nizar Trabelsi Module [NTM]

Nizar Trabelsi (°1970) is an al-Qa’ida terrorist from the Tunisian city of Sfax. He was a talented soccer player as a young man. In 1989, Trabelsi moved to Europe and played professionally with teams in Belgium and Germany.¹ His career stalled and he retired from sports in 1995.² Trabelsi began to drink heavily and use drugs.³ He became involved in narcotics trafficking and was eventually arrested and imprisoned in Germany.⁴ During his stay in prison, Trabelsi turned to religion.⁵ Upon his release, he came into contact with Belgian-based Tunisian jihadi Tarek Maâroufi in 1996.⁶

In 2000, Trabelsi moved to Afghanistan where he attended al-Qa’ida-ran training camps near Jalalabad.⁷ Trabelsi met several times with Osama Bin Laden who directed him to cooperate with al-Qa’ida military chief Mohammed Atef.⁸ Trabelsi volunteered to become a suicide terrorist.⁹ Atef tasked him with attacking a joint Belgian-American air force base in the province of Limburg.¹⁰

Trabelsi traveled to Belgium in July 2001. He linked up with al-Qa’ida operative Abdelkrim el-Haddouti and gathered a few associates to form the Nizar Trabelsi Module [NTM].¹¹ The cell began making preparations for the attack.¹² Trabelsi stayed in close contact with al-Qa’ida associates in Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.¹³

In the wake of the Sep. 11, 2001 attacks in America, Belgian authorities clamped down on Islamist militancy in the country. On Sep. 13, police arrested Trabelsi during a series of raids against al-Qa’ida operatives in Brussels.¹⁴ Firearms and explosives were seized during the operation.¹⁵ On Sep. 30, 2003, a Belgian court sentenced him to ten years in prison.¹⁶

During his incarceration in Belgium, Trabelsi was known to cause trouble. He assaulted a prison guard and threatened the director of the facility.¹⁷ Trabelsi hatched at least five different escape plots.¹⁸ He also had knives smuggled into prison by supporters in 2009.¹⁹ Trabelsi filed numerous complaints against his treatment.²⁰ Following an American extradition request in 2008, he began filing court appeals to block the Belgian authorities from handing him over.²¹ Trabelsi demanded political asylum and even tried to marry a Belgian citizen to block his extradition.²² In 2009, he furthermore went on brief hunger strikes.²³

Trabelsi maintained contacts with other jihadis during his imprisonment. He remained in touch with al-Qa’ida associate Malika el-Aroud.²⁴ Trabelsi was also involved in proselytization among Muslim prisoners.²⁵

By June 2012, Trabelsi had served his sentence but was kept in detention until his extradition to America in October 2013.²⁶ He continued to legally pursue the Belgian government from abroad.²⁷ In 2014, the European Court for Human Rights ordered Belgium to pay damages for his alleged dishonorable and inhumane treatment.²⁸ In May 2016, the government gave more 75.000 EUR to Trabelsi’s family.²⁹

References[+]

References
↑1	Dernière Heure – “Trabelsi condamné à 10 ans” (Oct. 01, 2003), link; Monde – “Nizar Trabelsi, des terrains de football aux camps d’entraînement d’Afghanistan“, by Pascal Ceaux & Fabrice l’Homme (Oct. 20, 2001), link; Morgen – “Nizar Trabelsi: bin Ladens balgoochelaar” (Dec. 21, 2007), link; Nieuwsblad – “Voetballer wordt terrorist en rolmodel voor fundamentalisten” (Dec. 22, 2007), link & Soir – “Trabelsi a été joueur de football” (Sep. 19, 2001), link.
↑2	Morgen – “Nizar Trabelsi: bin Ladens balgoochelaar” (Dec. 21, 2007), link.
↑3	Nieuwsblad – “Voetballer wordt terrorist en rolmodel voor fundamentalisten” (Dec. 22, 2007), link.
↑4	Monde – “Nizar Trabelsi, des terrains de football aux camps d’entraînement d’Afghanistan“, by Pascal Ceaux & Fabrice l’Homme (Oct. 20, 2001), link & Morgen – “Nizar Trabelsi: bin Ladens balgoochelaar” (Dec. 21, 2007), link.
↑5	Monde – “Nizar Trabelsi, des terrains de football aux camps d’entraînement d’Afghanistan“, by Pascal Ceaux & Fabrice l’Homme (Oct. 20, 2001), link; Morgen – “Nizar Trabelsi: bin Ladens balgoochelaar” (Dec. 21, 2007), link & Nieuwsblad – “Voetballer wordt terrorist en rolmodel voor fundamentalisten” (Dec. 22, 2007), link.
↑6	Monde – “A Bruxelles, Nizar Trabelsi raconte ses cinq rencontres avec Ben Laden” (May 27, 2003), link.
↑7	British Broadcasting Corporation – “Tunisian Nizar Trabelsi extradited to US on terror charges” (Oct. 04, 2013), link & Monde – “Nizar Trabelsi, des terrains de football aux camps d’entraînement d’Afghanistan“, by Pascal Ceaux & Fabrice l’Homme (Oct. 20, 2001), link.
↑8	British Broadcasting Corporation – “Al-Qaeda plotters sentenced” (Sep. 30, 2003), link; Monde – “A Bruxelles, Nizar Trabelsi raconte ses cinq rencontres avec Ben Laden” (May 27, 2003), link & New York Times – “Tunisian Ex-Soccer Player Extradited“, by Charlie Savage (Oct. 03, 2013), link.
↑9	British Broadcasting Corporation – “Al-Qaeda plotters sentenced” (Sep. 30, 2003), link & Monde – “A Bruxelles, Nizar Trabelsi raconte ses cinq rencontres avec Ben Laden” (May 27, 2003), link.
↑10	Standaard – “Trabelsi moest Al-Qaedabom binnenbrengen op Kleine Brogel” (May 26, 2003), link.
↑11	Standaard – “Vriend Trabelsi kocht producten voor bom” (May 29, 2003), link.
↑12	Dernière Heure – “Trabelsi condamné à 10 ans” (Oct. 01, 2003), link; Standaard – “Vriend Trabelsi kocht producten voor bom” (May 29, 2003), link & Standaard – “Trabelsi krijgt tien jaar voor beramen aanslag Kleine Brogel” (Sep. 30, 2003), link.
↑13	Monde – “Dix ans de prison pour Nizar Trabelsi, qui avait préparé un attentat pour Al-Qaida à Bruxelles” (Oct. 01, 2003), link & Standaard – “Richard Reid telefoneerde met Trabelsi” (Feb. 06, 2002), link.
↑14	Dernière Heure – “Trabelsi condamné à 10 ans” (Oct. 01, 2003), link; Monde – “Nizar Trabelsi, des terrains de football aux camps d’entraînement d’Afghanistan“, by Pascal Ceaux & Fabrice l’Homme (Oct. 20, 2001), link & Standaard – “Aanhouding Trabelsi en el Hadouti bevestigd” (Oct. 19, 2001), link.
↑15	Dernière Heure – “GIA, Trabelsi et Ben Laden” (Jun. 14, 2003), link; Monde – “Nizar Trabelsi, des terrains de football aux camps d’entraînement d’Afghanistan“, by Pascal Ceaux & Fabrice l’Homme (Oct. 20, 2001), link; Morgen – “Nizar Trabelsi: bin Ladens balgoochelaar” (Dec. 21, 2007), link; Nieuwsblad – “Voetballer wordt terrorist en rolmodel voor fundamentalisten” (Dec. 22, 2007), link & Standaard – “Nizar Trabelsi krijgt in najaar 2019 terreurproces in VS“, by Yves Barbieux (Oct. 09, 2018), link.
↑16	British Broadcasting Corporation – “Al-Qaeda plotters sentenced” (Sep. 30, 2003), link; Dernière Heure – “Trabelsi condamné à 10 ans” (Oct. 01, 2003), link; Libre Belgique – “Dix ans de prison pour Nizar Trabelsi” (Sep. 30, 2003), link; Monde – “Dix ans de prison pour Nizar Trabelsi, qui avait préparé un attentat pour Al-Qaida à Bruxelles” (Oct. 01, 2003), link & Standaard – “Trabelsi krijgt tien jaar voor beramen aanslag Kleine Brogel” (Sep. 30, 2003), link.
↑17	Libre Belgique – “Trabelsi condamné à une peine de 6 mois de prison” (Apr. 16, 2007), link; Morgen – “Nizar Trabelsi: bin Ladens balgoochelaar” (Dec. 21, 2007), link; Nieuwsblad – “Nizar Trabelsi krijgt zes maanden cel voor bedreigen gevangenisdirecteur” (Apr. 16, 2007), link; Standaard – “Trabelsi voor Luikse rechter wegens slagen en verwondingen” (Nov. 09, 2005), link & Standaard – “Nizar Trabelsi krijgt zes maanden cel voor bedreigen gevangenisdirecteur” (Apr. 16, 2007), link.
↑18	Libre Belgique – “Nizar Trabelsi cherche toujours à s’évader” (Aug. 13, 2009), link & Standaard – “Nizar Trabelsi uitgeleverd aan de VS“, by Mark Eeckhaut & Jan Temmerman (Oct. 03, 2013), link.
↑19	Libre Belgique – “Nizar Trabelsi cherche toujours à s’évader” (Aug. 13, 2009), link; Morgen – “Trabelsi smokkelt messen binnen in gevangenis Lantin” (Aug. 13, 2009), link; Morgen – “Trabelsi in hongerstaking” (Aug. 18, 2009), link & Standaard – “Messen binnengesmokkeld voor terrorist Trabelsi” (Aug. 13, 2009), link.
↑20	Laatste Nieuws – “Trabelsi klaagt onmenselijke behandeling in Hasseltse gevangenis aan“, by Karen Van Eyken (Jul. 27, 2012), link & Standaard – “Trabelsi wil 1.000 euro per extra dag in strenge gevangenis” (Nov. 07, 2009), link.
↑21	British Broadcasting Corporation – “Tunisian Nizar Trabelsi extradited to US on terror charges” (Oct. 04, 2013), link & Standaard – “Nizar Trabelsi krijgt in najaar 2019 terreurproces in VS“, by Yves Barbieux (Oct. 09, 2018), link.
↑22	Laatste Nieuws – “Trabelsi vraagt politiek asiel aan in België” (Dec. 22, 2008), link; Laatste Nieuws – “Trabelsi kan niet trouwen in de gevangenis” (Sep. 23, 2013), link; Morgen – “Trabelsi vraagt politiek asiel aan in België” (Dec. 22, 2008), link; Standaard – “Nizar Trabelsi uitgeleverd aan de VS“, by Mark Eeckhaut & Jan Temmerman (Oct. 03, 2013), link & Standaard – “Nizar Trabelsi krijgt in najaar 2019 terreurproces in VS“, by Yves Barbieux (Oct. 09, 2018), link.
↑23	Libre Belgique – “Trabelsi mène une grève de la faim à la prison de Bruges” (Dec. 30, 2008), link; Morgen – “Trabelsi in hongerstaking” (Aug. 18, 2009), link; Standaard – “Nizar Trabelsi in hongerstaking” (Dec. 30, 2008), link & Standaard – “Trabelsi in hongerstaking” (Aug. 17, 2009), link.
↑24	Standaard – “Nizar Trabelsi uitgeleverd aan de VS“, by Mark Eeckhaut & Jan Temmerman (Oct. 03, 2013), link.
↑25	ZELIN, Aaron – “Liège attacker connected to Tunisian jihadi veterans?” on: Tunisian Jihadism (Jun. 14, 2018), link.
↑26	British Broadcasting Corporation – “Tunisian Nizar Trabelsi extradited to US on terror charges” (Oct. 04, 2013), link; New York Times – “Tunisian Ex-Soccer Player Extradited“, by Charlie Savage (Oct. 03, 2013), link & Standaard – “Nizar Trabelsi uitgeleverd aan de VS“, by Mark Eeckhaut & Jan Temmerman (Oct. 03, 2013), link.
↑27	Morgen – “Trabelsi dient klacht in wegens onmenselijke behandeling” (Feb. 09, 2014), link.
↑28	Morgen – “Staat betaalde 78.791 euro aan terrorist Trabelsi” (May 13, 2016), link & Standaard – “België definitief veroordeeld voor schending mensenrechten Nizar Trabelsi” (Feb. 27, 2015), link.
↑29	Morgen – “Staat betaalde 78.791 euro aan terrorist Trabelsi” (May 13, 2016), link.

Nizar Trabelsi (Jihadi Militant, Belgium)

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