Sohiane Benafri
Sohiane Benafri, also known as Sofiane, was born on March 26, 1971, in Algeria. He faced severe charges under Article 270 bis of the Italian Penal Code for his involvement in a logistical support network for the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which was functionally connected to the international terrorist organization al-Qaeda. This network aimed to conduct acts of violence against the Algerian state and to engage in international terrorism. Sohiane was associated with Halimi Djaelloul, Toubal Abdelkader, Khellili Fatah, and Yahiaou Abdelmadjid, whose cases were severed from the proceedings.
From October 2001 to June 2005, Sohiane participated in the establishment of an Islamic extremist cell operating primarily in Naples, Aversa, Milan, and Vicenza. This cell originated from the disintegration of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) and focused on recruiting members, procuring false documents, and raising funds for its activities. Extensive investigations, primarily conducted through telephone and environmental wiretapping, revealed a well-organized network that was deeply entrenched in Algeria, where it led a violent and bloody opposition against state institutions, employing terrorism to instill fear among the population. The organization displayed a complex structure, encompassing various factions, including the FIS, GIA, and GSPC, with operations extending beyond Algeria to countries such as Italy, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. These cells were tasked with consolidating support among Algerian expatriates, securing financing, recruiting personnel for operations in Algeria, and establishing safe houses for those engaged in combat or facing judicial actions in their home countries. Although these cells operated independently, they were part of a unified transnational structure united by the shared objective of waging holy war against apostates and non-believers.
The GIA-GSPC cell, likely formed in Naples, maintained its operational center in Naples. Funds collected across various Italian cities were transferred to Algeria to support jihadist fighters through a well-organized transport system along the Naples-Marseille route. From Naples, essential identity documents were sourced and then used by forgers to create false identification, which was subsequently distributed, even internationally. The cell also engaged in procuring propaganda materials to incite and prepare for Islamic jihad among Muslim Arabs residing in Italy. Intercepted conversations indicated discussions about a “national reconciliation” project, essentially an amnesty for militants deemed illegal by Algerian authorities. Within the organization, some factions were inclined to promote negotiations with authorities, while a more hardline faction, particularly based in Milan, consistently rejected any notion of compromise, adhering instead to the violent promotion of radical Islamic principles.
Sohiane faces additional charges under Articles 476, 477, and 468 of the Italian Penal Code for collaborating with Khellili Fatah and Yahiaou Abdelmadjid, among others, in producing counterfeit identity documents, including passports, driver’s licenses, and residence permits, by affixing false seals of public entities responsible for their issuance. He is also charged under Article 648 for acquiring or receiving genuine documents obtained through illicit means for the purpose of counterfeiting them for profit. These crimes were committed in Naples, Caserta, Vicenza, and Milan from November 11, 2001, until September 30, 2003.
In 2011, the Public Prosecutor sought a six-year prison sentence for Sohiane. However, he was acquitted by the Court of Assizes in Naples of the charges against him, as the evidence presented did not support the allegations made under Article 270 bis, and the court determined that the actions he was accused of in connection with Article 648 did not occur.
