APPREHENDED
- Full name: Rudolph Holierhoek
- Pseudonym: Abu Souhaib, Abu Saïd
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: Netherlands
- Affiliation: Schilderswijk Jihadi Network [SJN]
Rudolph Holierhoek (°1989) is a Dutch Islamist activist who has been linked to jihadi activity. The son of a Zeelandic judge converted to Islam around 2009.1 Soon afterwards, Holierhoek began to associate with Islamist radicals in Den Haag’s immigrant-heavy Schilderswijk suburb. He actively helped spread Salafi extremist ideas among local Muslims.2 Holierhoek joined Azzedine Choukoud and his companions in setting up a series of fronts for the burgeoning community of Salafis in the Schilderswijk, including “Behind Bars” and “Street Dawah”.3 He acted as a protest organizer and a spokesperson for these entities.4
In August 2012, Holierhoek shook his baby daughter to death when she cried as he was playing video games.5 Holierhoek scaled back his public activity following the incident.6 In April 2013, a court gave him a two-year prison sentence for his daughter’s death.7 After the trial concluded, Holierhoek returned to activism and set up a website devoted to radical Salafism.8
Through his website, Holierhoek rallied support for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham] and incited hatred against the Jewish people. His associates set up the Schilderswijk Jihadi Network [SJN] which recruited fighters for the DaIISh and helped facilitate travel to Syria.9 Holierhoek served as the network’s propaganda chief.10
On Aug. 27, 2014, police arrested Holierhoek at his home as they cracked down on the SJN.11 In the run-up to his trial, he was released from custody in September 2015.12 A Dutch court sentenced Holierhoek to more than five years in prison on Dec. 10, 2015.13
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