Abdul Nacer Benbrika
| Abdul Nacer Benbrika | |
|---|---|
| Born |
circa 1960 (age 56–57) Algeria |
| Nationality | Algerian/Australian |
| Occupation | Muslim cleric |
| Criminal charge | Intentionally being the leader and a member of a terrorist organisation |
| Criminal penalty | 15 years jail with a non-parole period of 12 years |
| Criminal status | In custody |
| Conviction(s) | Guilty on 15 September 2008 |
Abdul Nacer Benbrika (Arabic: عبد الناصر بن بريكة) (born in Algeria about 1960), also known as Abu Bakr (Arabic: أبو بكر), was one of 17 men arrested in the Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne in November 2005, charged with being members of a terrorist organisation and of planning terrorist attacks on targets within the country. Benbrika is alleged to be the spiritual leader of the group. All 17 men pleaded not guilty. On 15 September 2008 Benbrika was found guilty on the charge of intentionally being the leader and a member of a terrorist organisation.
Benbrika was born in Algeria: various sources give his age as 45 or 46 as of November 2005. He was trained as an aircraft engineer. He arrived in Australia in May 1989 on a one-month visitor's permit, on which he twice gained extensions, and settled in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, an area with a large Muslim population. After his permit expired in 1990 he became a prohibited non-citizen, then spent the next six years fighting through the Immigration Review Tribunal appeals process, for the right to stay. During his hearings he told the tribunal of his "love of the Australian lifestyle".
In 1992 Benbrika married a Lebanese woman who was an Australian citizen, with whom he had seven children. He was granted Australian residence in 1996 and became a citizen in 1998, although he is reported to have retained his Algerian citizenship as well. He has been on government welfare benefits for so many years and this has become a topic of debate.
His teachings became increasingly politicised after the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. This came at a time when the Muslim community was under intense scrutiny from the Australian government and media outlets.
Benbrika was said to have been a teacher and a deputy-leader at the Islamic Information & Support Centre of Australia led by Mohammed Omran who, as Sheikh Abu Ayman, also lead the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association (Australia). Omran has denied that he had close ties with Benbrika.
Benbrika began teaching smaller groups on a less formal basis after he refused the requests of more formal organisations that he tone down his teachings.
...
Wikipedia