Samir Azzouz
Encyclopedia
Samir Azzouz is a Dutch national of Moroccan
descent. He is currently incarcerated in Nieuw Vosseveld
on suspicion of attempting to procure heavy firearms and planning terrorist
attacks. He is also suspected to be closely related to the terrorist group the Hofstad Network
, but has never been prosecuted for membership of the group.
Azzouz was born in Amsterdam
and grew up in a relatively poor immigrant neighborhood. He was a successful student in high school and started on VWO (the highest level in the Dutch secondary school system, granting access to university), but he left school before graduating. It was during his time in high school that he began following a radical form of islam
.
In January 2003 Azzouz was arrested in Ukraine
. He and a friend were allegedly on their way to Chechnya
to fight for the jihad
against Russia
. However, the pair of 17-year olds lacked proper passports and clothing and had to return to the Netherlands
.
In October 2003 Azzouz and four others were arrested in the Netherlands
. They were suspected of constituting a terrorist cell, but were released for lack of evidence.
On 30 June 2004 Azzouz was arrested again for the armed robbery of a supermarket. During a search of Azzouz's house, police found what they believed to be evidence that Azzouz had been involved in planning several attacks on Dutch targets, such as Schiphol Airport and the nuclear power plant in Borssele
. Police found maps of these targets, some chemicals used in explosives, such as fertilizer
, and ammunition.
However, at trial the judge concluded there was insufficient evidence to convict Azzouz on the charge of planning terrorist attacks. He did in fact possess a home made bomb but this proved faulty since he had used the wrong type of fertilizer
. He was only convicted on the charge of illegal possession of firearms and sentenced to three months in jail. After this sentence he was finally acquitted of the original terrorism charge.
On 14 October 2005 Azzouz was arrested again on suspicion of attempting to procure heavy firearms and planning terrorist
attacks against national politicians and the headquarters of the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD)
in Leidschendam
.
On 14 September 2006 the Dutch TV program Nova broadcast parts of a video-testament of Samir Azzouz.
1 December 2006 he was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment, along with three other militant islamists. He is presently held in Nieuw Vosseveld
.
Samir Azzouz suffers from the disease ulcerative colitis
. EORG (a European organisation for the protection of rights of detainees) claims he does not receive proper care in prison.
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
descent. He is currently incarcerated in Nieuw Vosseveld
Nieuw Vosseveld
Nieuw Vosseveld is a high security prison in the Dutch town of Vught, part of the Custodial Institutions Agency of the Dutch Ministry of Public Safety and Justice within the Dutch criminal justice system...
on suspicion of attempting to procure heavy firearms and planning terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
attacks. He is also suspected to be closely related to the terrorist group the Hofstad Network
Hofstad Network
The Hofstad Network is an Islamist group of mostly young Dutch Muslims of mainly Moroccan ancestry.The name "Hofstad" was originally the codename the Dutch secret service AIVD used for a set of individuals and leaked to the media...
, but has never been prosecuted for membership of the group.
Azzouz was born in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and grew up in a relatively poor immigrant neighborhood. He was a successful student in high school and started on VWO (the highest level in the Dutch secondary school system, granting access to university), but he left school before graduating. It was during his time in high school that he began following a radical form of islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
In January 2003 Azzouz was arrested in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. He and a friend were allegedly on their way to Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
to fight for the jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
against Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. However, the pair of 17-year olds lacked proper passports and clothing and had to return to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
In October 2003 Azzouz and four others were arrested in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. They were suspected of constituting a terrorist cell, but were released for lack of evidence.
On 30 June 2004 Azzouz was arrested again for the armed robbery of a supermarket. During a search of Azzouz's house, police found what they believed to be evidence that Azzouz had been involved in planning several attacks on Dutch targets, such as Schiphol Airport and the nuclear power plant in Borssele
Borssele
Borssele is a town in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is a part of the municipality of Borsele, and lies about 12 km east of Vlissingen. Note that the municipality name is spelled with a single s while the name of the town is spelled with a double s.The town is the site of the Netherlands'...
. Police found maps of these targets, some chemicals used in explosives, such as fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
, and ammunition.
However, at trial the judge concluded there was insufficient evidence to convict Azzouz on the charge of planning terrorist attacks. He did in fact possess a home made bomb but this proved faulty since he had used the wrong type of fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
. He was only convicted on the charge of illegal possession of firearms and sentenced to three months in jail. After this sentence he was finally acquitted of the original terrorism charge.
On 14 October 2005 Azzouz was arrested again on suspicion of attempting to procure heavy firearms and planning terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
attacks against national politicians and the headquarters of the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD)
General Intelligence and Security Service
Algemene Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst , formerly known as the BVD is the General Intelligence and Security Service or The Secret service of the Netherlands. The office is in Zoetermeer...
in Leidschendam
Leidschendam
Leidschendam is a town and former municipality in the province of South Holland of the Netherlands. Along with Voorburg and Stompwijk, it is part of the municipality Leidschendam-Voorburg.- History :...
.
On 14 September 2006 the Dutch TV program Nova broadcast parts of a video-testament of Samir Azzouz.
1 December 2006 he was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment, along with three other militant islamists. He is presently held in Nieuw Vosseveld
Nieuw Vosseveld
Nieuw Vosseveld is a high security prison in the Dutch town of Vught, part of the Custodial Institutions Agency of the Dutch Ministry of Public Safety and Justice within the Dutch criminal justice system...
.
Samir Azzouz suffers from the disease ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease . Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the colon , that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores. The main symptom of active disease is usually constant diarrhea mixed with blood, of gradual onset...
. EORG (a European organisation for the protection of rights of detainees) claims he does not receive proper care in prison.