AT LARGE
- Full name: N/a
- Pseudonym: Abu Abdulrahman al-Belgiki
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: N/a
- Affiliation: fmr Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh], fmr Victory Front for the Syrian People [JaNS], fmr Shari’a for Belgium Movement [Sh4B], fmr Hassan Hamdaoui Module [HHM]
Youssef Khaldi (°1983) is a jihadi of North African descent from the Belgian city of Antwerp. He linked up with Hassan Hamdaoui and his associates in 2009 or 2010.1 Around the same time, Khaldi was among the first to join the Shari’a for Belgium Movement [Sh4].2 He came under investigation as Belgian authorities cracked down on the Hassan Hamdaoui Module in late 2010. A court cleared Khaldi of all charges in 2011.3
In April 2013, Khaldi traveled to Syria and joined the ranks of a local al-Qa’ida-affiliated group.4 He briefly linked up with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham] before returning to the Victory Front for the People of the Levant [JaNS; Jabhat al-Nusra li-Ahli ash-Sham].5 From Syria, Khaldi issued video messages in which he threatened attacks in Europe.6 After a while, Khaldi and his companions reportedly fought as freelancers alongside various jihadi outfits.7 They were apparently based in the Idlib governorate. In the summer of 2018, Khaldi and two Dutch associates gave an interview to journalists.8
In the meanwhile, Khaldi had been sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for his role in the HHM during a retrial in 2014.9 In March 2018, he was again given a five-year prison sentence for membership of a terrorist organization in a separate case.10
References