ELIMINATED
- Full name: Abdelkarim Belfilalia
- Pseudonym: “Karim”, “Karim le Chinois”
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: Syria, fmr France
- Affiliation: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh], Lunel Network [FdL]
Abdelkarim Belfilalia (°1986) was a jihadi from the southern French town of Lunel. As a young man, he was an acrobat and once even toured France with a circus.1 Belfilalia later opened a snackbar in his hometown. He turned to religion in 2012 and soon became a key figure in the notorious Lunel Network [FdL; Filière de Lunel].2 He went on to organize religious gatherings at his eatery.3 During these meetings, Jawad Salih instructed FdL associates on jihad and Salafi religious doctrines.4 Belfilalia also acted as the network’s treasurer.5
In November 2013, Belfilalia became the first Islamist from Lunel to go fight in Syria.6 He succeeded in crossing into the country and joining the Army of Mohammed [JM; Jaish Mohammed] with the assistance of FdL associate Hamza Mozli and jihadi logistical facilitator Johan Juncaj.7 Belfilalia paved the way for other Lunelois fighters and helped them with joining the jihadis in Syria.8 In early 2014, he left the JM and joined the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham]. Belfilalia and a companion of the FdL were killed while trying to cross the Iraqi border in December 2014.9
References