Fatima el-Zouagha (Jihadi Militant, Tunisia)

• Full name: Fatima el-Zouagha
• Pseudonym: N/a
• Alternatives: N/a
• Location: Tunisia
• Affiliation: fmr Partisans of Shari’a in Tunisia [AST], fmr Brigade of Uqba Bin Nafa’a [KUIN]

​Fatima el-Zaougha (°1994) is a jihadi operative from the Douar Hicher suburb of Tunis. She comes from a religiously extremist family but excelled academically during medical studies.¹ Zouagha became a member of the Partisans of Shari’a in Tunisia [AST; Ansar Achariaâ] following the 2011 Tunisian Revolution.² At first, she participated in the movement’s charitable activities.³ In 2012, Zouagha met Afif Amouri and later assisted him in managing the public relations of the AST and the allied Brigade of Uqba Bin Nafa’a [KUIN; Katibat Uqba Ibn Nafaâ].⁴ She got in touch with senior jihadis Seifallah Ben Hassine and Khalid Chaïeb.⁵ Zouagha relayed messages between the AST and members of the KUIN.⁶

Zouagha was not only active in the AST’s media department, but she also provided logistical support to the KUIN on several occasions.⁷ Zouaghi is furthermore known to have recruited jihadis for the AST and the KUIN.⁸ She maintained contacts with several cells that were planning to carry out attacks.⁹

Following Amouri’s arrest in the summer of 2014, Zouagha took over management of the AST’s external communications.¹⁰ She administered social media accounts linked to the movement.¹¹ In that role, Zouagha advocated jihad and incited followers against the Tunisian government and security forces.¹²

Zouagha and more than a dozen associates were arrested when Tunisian security forces rolled up her media cell on Oct. 14, 2014.¹³ In December 2015, news emerged that she had attracted dozens of followers among imprisoned thieves and prostitutes while in custody.¹⁴