Zarzis Module (Jihadi Entity, Tunisia)

• Local Name: Cellule de Zarzis
• Transliteration: N/a
• Alternatives: Brigades of the Prophet, Zarzis Internautes
• Status: 2002 – 2003 (Disbanded)
• Conflicts: Islamist Militancy in Tunisia

The Zarzis Module [CdZ; Cellule de Zarzis] was a small jihadi entity based in the eponymous Tunisian city. It was made up of about a dozen local high school and college students.¹ In 2002, some of the group’s members reportedly established contacts with representatives of al-Qa’ida.² The militants developed plans to attack a high school and assassinate an official of the local port authority.³ Several key members of the CdZ operated from exile in France and Sweden.⁴

On Feb. 26, 2003, security forces apprehended one of the CdZ’s operatives after he had made calls to attack the Zarzis paramilitary police headquarters.⁵ Other members were subsequently rounded up. Investigations revealed that the CdZ had been trying to procure weapons. In April 2004, a court sentenced six members of the outfit to lengthy prison terms for their role in establishing a terrorist organization.⁶ A week later, alleged cell leader Abderazak Bourguiba was also sentenced to prison.⁷ The imprisoned terrorists went on a brief hunger strike in June 2004.⁸

The case attracted the attention of international human rights organizations who portrayed the militants as young men who were arrested for surfing on the internet.⁹ Under international pressure, the Tunisian authorities released the militants in February 2006. One CdZ member traveled to Somalia where he joined the Islamic Courts Union [ICU; Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga]. The militant was eliminated by the Ethiopian army in February 2007.¹⁰