Azzedine Choukoud (Jihadi Militant, Netherlands)

STATUS UNKNOWN

Full name: Azzedine Choukoud
Pseudonym: Abu Moussa
Alternatives: N/a
Location: Netherlands
Affiliation: Schilderswijk Jihadi Network [SJN]

Azzedine Choukoud (°1982) is a prolific Moroccan Islamist from the Dutch city of Den Haag. As a young man, he had been a talented soccer player. His career was hampered by injuries and Choukoud failed a bid to become a gym teacher.¹ He subsequently lived off welfare.² Choukoud became drawn to Islamism during the 2005 trial against members of the Hofstad Network [HN]. He sympathized with the defendants and frequently attended proceedings in their support.³

Following the trial, Choukoud moved into the immigrant-heavy Schilderswijk suburb of Den Haag where he helped spread Salafi ideology among local Muslim youths.⁴ Choukoud attracted a following and became an organizer for the suburb’s Islamist community. He turned into the driving force of several Islamist campaigns, including “Street Dawah” and “Behind Bars” in which Choukoud and his followers preached their version of Islam and protested perceived discrimination.⁵ In September 2012, Choukoud helped organize a demonstration against an anti-Islam film outside the American embassy.⁶ He and his associates were also very active on social media.⁷ Choukoud made appearances in the press and became a well-known figure in the Netherlands.

In the early 2010s, Choukoud and his associates grew increasingly interested in Islamist militancy. By mid-2012, the informal Schilderswijk Jihadi Network [SJN] emerged. Choukoud was one of the network’s key figures.⁸ He inspired followers to join the jihadi forces in Syria. Between the summer of 2012 and mid-2014, dozens of people associated with the SJN joined militant groups loyal to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham] and the Victory Front for the Syrian People [JaNS; Jabhat al-Nusra li-Ahli ash-Sham].⁹ Choukoud and his associates facilitated and helped finance the travel of these fighters.¹⁰ By early 2013, parents of the network’s recruits started blaming Choukoud as they reported their sons missing to police.¹¹ The SJN nevertheless continued to operate unimpeded. Choukoud even congratulated the DaIISh with the establishment of the caliphate in a video message.¹² In July 2014, jihadi banners were flown at a protest organized by him to demand the release of militant recruiter Osama Chanou.¹³

Choukoud and his wife allegedly tried to go to Syria in August 2014, but aborted their journey in Croatia and decided to return home.¹⁴ They were caught by German police on Aug. 27.¹⁵ Immediately after the arrests, Dutch police clamped down on the SJN. Several key figures were apprehended. Germany deported Choukoud to the Netherlands where he was subsequently taken into custody.¹⁶ In jail, Choukoud went on several short hunger strikes to protest strict prison conditions.¹⁷

On Dec. 10, 2015, a Dutch court sentenced Choukoud to six years in prison.¹⁸ Judges identified him as the leader of the SJN. Choukoud was found guilty of inciting hatred and calling for violence.¹⁹ On May 25, 2018, an appeals court confirmed his conviction and gave him a slightly longer prison sentence.²⁰ He was nevertheless granted early release from prison on Jun. 08.²¹

References[+]

References
↑1	Algemeen Dagblad – “Azzedine C: van jong sporttalent tot jihadronselaar“, by Carla van der Wal & Sander van der Werf (Aug. 30, 2014), link & Nederlandse Omroep Stichting – “Verdachten in het jihadproces: van Abou Moussa tot Abou Gortex” (Sep. 07, 2015), link.
↑2	Elsevier Weekblad – “Dit zijn de drie opgepakte jihad-ronselaars“, by Servaas van der Laan (Aug. 28, 2014), link.
↑3	Algemeen Dagblad – “Azzedine C: van jong sporttalent tot jihadronselaar“, by Carla van der Wal & Sander van der Werf (Aug. 30, 2014), link.
↑4	Algemeen Dagblad – “Azzedine C: van jong sporttalent tot jihadronselaar“, by Carla van der Wal & Sander van der Werf (Aug. 30, 2014), link.
↑5	Elsevier Weekblad – “Dit zijn de gezichten van de jihad in Nederland“, by Nikki Sterkenburg (Sep. 08, 2014), link; Nederlandse Omroep Stichting – “De dag waarop de Schilderswijk zwart vlagde“, by Robert Bas (Dec. 24, 2014), link; Nederlandse Omroep Stichting – “Verdachten in het jihadproces: van Abou Moussa tot Abou Gortex” (Sep. 07, 2015), link & RTL Nieuws – “Wat weten we van Aboe Moussa, de schrik van de Schilderswijk?” (Aug. 28, 2014), link.
↑6	Elsevier Weekblad – “ISIS-sympathisanten: protesterend en escalerend“, by Nikki Sterkenburg (Aug. 02, 2014), link & Volkskrant – “Rol jihadverdachte Rudolph H kleiner dan verwacht“, by Janny Groen (Sep. 21, 2015), link.
↑7	RTL Nieuws – “Wat weten we van Aboe Moussa, de schrik van de Schilderswijk?” (Aug. 28, 2014), link.
↑8	Agence France-Presse – “Dutch court convicts six for recruiting IS jihadists“, by Jan Hennop (Dec. 10, 2015), link; Elsevier Weekblad – “Dit zijn de gezichten van de jihad in Nederland“, by Nikki Sterkenburg (Sep. 08, 2014), link; Nederlandse Omroep Stichting – “Celstraffen tot 5,5 jaar in hoger beroep Haags jihadproces” (May 25, 2018), link & RTL Nieuws – “Tot 6 jaar cel voor Haagse jihadisten om steun aan terrorisme” (Dec. 10, 2015), link.
↑9	Algemeen Dagblad – “Jihad ronselaars toonden zwartste kant van de islam“, by Carla van der Wal & Sander van der Werf (Aug. 29, 2014), link; Elsevier Weekblad – “Wie zijn de jihadverdachten uit de Schilderswijk?“, by Nikki Sterkenburg (Sep. 07, 2015), link; Omroep West – “Jihadronselaar Azzedine C op vrije voeten“, by Sander Knura (Jun. 08, 2018), link & Volkskrant – “Jihadproces: zes jaar cel voor Azzedine C“, by Janny Groen (Dec. 10, 2015), link.
↑10	Algemeen Dagblad – “Jihad ronselaars toonden zwartste kant van de islam“, by Carla van der Wal & Sander van der Werf (Aug. 29, 2014), link; Algemeen Dagblad – “Straffen tot zes jaar cel in Haags jihadproces“, by Cyril Rosman & Maarten van Ast (Dec. 10, 2015), link; Elsevier Weekblad – “Wie zijn de jihadverdachten uit de Schilderswijk?“, by Nikki Sterkenburg (Sep. 07, 2015), link; Volkskrant – “Jihadproces: zes jaar cel voor Azzedine C“, by Janny Groen (Dec. 10, 2015), link & Vrij Nederland – “Hoe Haagse Syriëgangers het martelaarschap omarmen“, by Harry Lensink & Jaco Alberts (Mar. 25, 2015), link.
↑11	Agence France-Presse – “Dutch court convicts six for recruiting IS jihadists“, by Jan Hennop (Dec. 10, 2015), link; Algemeen Dagblad – “Jihadverdachte Azzedine C op vrije voeten“, by Thomas de Waard (Jun. 08, 2018), link; Elsevier Weekblad – “Wie zijn de jihadverdachten uit de Schilderswijk?“, by Nikki Sterkenburg (Sep. 07, 2015), link; Nu – “Dit is waar het Haagse jihadproces om draait” (Oct. 08, 2015), link & Vrij Nederland – “De 126 jihadisten waar we bang voor zijn“, by Harry Lensink & Jaco Alberts (Feb. 18, 2015), link.
↑12	RTL Nieuws – “Wat weten we van Aboe Moussa, de schrik van de Schilderswijk?” (Aug. 28, 2014), link.
↑13	Omroep West – “Radicale moslims demonstreren in Haagse Schilderswijk” (Jul. 04, 2014), link & Volkskrant – “Jihadproces: zes jaar cel voor Azzedine C“, by Janny Groen (Dec. 10, 2015), link.
↑14	Algemeen Dagblad – “Jihadverdachte Azzedine C op vrije voeten“, by Thomas de Waard (Jun. 08, 2018), link & Elsevier Weekblad – “Dit zijn de gezichten van de jihad in Nederland“, by Nikki Sterkenburg (Sep. 08, 2014), link.
↑15	Algemeen Dagblad – “Jihad-ronselaars Rudolph H en Azzedine C opgepakt” (Aug. 28, 2014), link & Elsevier Weekblad – “Dit zijn de drie opgepakte jihad-ronselaars“, by Servaas van der Laan (Aug. 28, 2014), link.
↑16	Nu – “Dit is waar het Haagse jihadproces om draait” (Oct. 08, 2015), link & RTL Nieuws – “Duitsland levert Haagse jihadronselaars uit” (Sep. 02, 2014), link.
↑17	Algemeen Dagblad – “Jihadronselaar Abou Moussa beëindigt hongerstaking” (Nov. 13, 2014), link; Nederlandse Omroep Stichting – “Verdachten in het jihadproces: van Abou Moussa tot Abou Gortex” (Sep. 07, 2015), link; Nu – “Dit is waar het Haagse jihadproces om draait” (Oct. 08, 2015), link; Omroep West – “Haagse jihadronselaar Azzedine C weer in hongerstaking” (Dec. 23, 2014), link & RTL Nieuws – “De schrik van de Schilderswijk eet weer” (Dec. 31, 2014), link.
↑18	Agence France-Presse – “Dutch court convicts six for recruiting IS jihadists“, by Jan Hennop (Dec. 10, 2015), link; Algemeen Dagblad – “Straffen tot zes jaar cel in Haags jihadproces“, by Cyril Rosman & Maarten van Ast (Dec. 10, 2015), link; Nederlandse Omroep Stichting – “Celstraffen tot zes jaar in jihadproces” (Dec. 10, 2015), link & RTL Nieuws – “Tot 6 jaar cel voor Haagse jihadisten om steun aan terrorisme” (Dec. 10, 2015), link.
↑19	Algemeen Dagblad – “Straffen tot zes jaar cel in Haags jihadproces“, by Cyril Rosman & Maarten van Ast (Dec. 10, 2015), link & RTL Nieuws – “Tot 6 jaar cel voor Haagse jihadisten om steun aan terrorisme” (Dec. 10, 2015), link.
↑20	Algemeen Dagblad – “Tot 5,5 jaar cel in Haags Jihadproces“, by Cyril Rosman (May 25, 2018), link; Nederlandse Omroep Stichting – “Celstraffen tot 5,5 jaar in hoger beroep Haags jihadproces” (May 25, 2018), link & Telegraaf – “Haags jihadproces: straffen tot 5,5 jaar in hoger beroep” (May 25, 2018), link.
↑21	Algemeen Dagblad – “Jihadverdachte Azzedine C op vrije voeten“, by Thomas de Waard (Jun. 08, 2018), link; Nederlandse Omroep Stichting – “Haagse jihadronselaar Azzedine C vrijgelaten” (Jun. 08, 2018), link; Omroep West – “Jihadronselaar Azzedine C op vrije voeten“, by Sander Knura (Jun. 08, 2018), link & Telegraaf – “Jihadronselaar Abou Moussa vrij“, by Ilan Sluis (Jun. 08, 2018), link.

Azzedine Choukoud (Jihadi Militant, Netherlands)

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