Mustafá Amaya, a well-known recruiter of jihadists, has been arrested one year after being released from prison. He was convicted in 2018 for being identified as the primary recruiter of terrorists in Europe. There are no details available regarding the recent arrest.
Mustafá Amaya, a well-known recruiter of jihadists in Europe, has been arrested one year after being released from prison. In 2018, Amaya was sentenced to 8 years in prison for being identified as the primary recruiter of terrorists in the continent. His sentence highlighted that Amaya was guilty of belonging to a terrorist organization as a promoter and director. He was responsible for one of the largest networks for recruiting and sending radicals to join jihadist terrorist organizations, embedded in the movement and ideology of "global jihad."
Mustafá Maya Amaya has an atypical history within the context of the international jihadist network and is considered a "seasoned veteran" by experts in the fight against terrorism. Of Spanish nationality, born in Brussels 59 years ago into a family of Romani origin, he settled in Melilla at an early age, where he began a process of jihadist radicalization.
Over the years, Amaya organized one of the largest networks for recruiting and sending radicals to terrorist organizations. A key element of this network was the training camp for jihadists that he established in the autonomous city of Melilla to send fighters to conflict zones.
Detailed information about the circumstances of his recent arrest is not available, but counterterrorism sources have confirmed that Amaya was released from prison one year ago after serving his sentence. He has been spotted again in Melilla in recent months, often seen being transported in his distinctive wheelchair.
His network has helped at least thirty individuals from Mali, Syria, or Libya to integrate into organizations such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQMI), Daesh (Islamic State), or Jabhat Al-Nusra. He has been one of the most effective collaborators of these organizations in providing fighters for their cause.
The arrest of Amaya once again highlights the challenge posed by the release of jihadists after serving their sentences.
Editorial