Nafaa Afli
Born in Tunis, Tunisia on 11 November 1991, Nafaa Afli was one of several individuals investigated in a complex Italian counter-terrorism operation codenamed ‘Taliban’ in the mid-2010s. He arrived in Italy in 2015 after applying for a residence permit to study. During the judicial proceedings, he was detained in Nuoro prison. He had already been placed in pre-trial detention, first in prison and then under house arrest in the provinces of Pisa and Varese for drug trafficking, based on evidence gathered during this investigation. His case became emblematic of how social ties, digital behaviour and online radical content could trigger suspicion of jihadist involvement.
Afli’s ideological exposure appeared to stem primarily from social media networks. Investigators alleged that he sympathised with Islamist extremism by sharing or liking jihad-related content on Facebook, including a photo of an armed fighter accompanied by a nasheed glorifying martyrdom, as well as posts honouring friends who had joined the Islamic State in Syria. The authorities also claimed that he had ties to members of the Tunisian group Ansar al-Sharia, which is known for its links to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and, later, to ISIS.
Afli had personal contacts with several young Tunisians living in Italy who later left for Syria to fight as foreign fighters. These contacts included Wael Labidi and Khaled Zeddini. Although he did not travel himself, he allegedly expressed ideological sympathy with them online and mourned their deaths. Investigators noted his efforts, alongside those of others, to support Ben Saad, a fellow Tunisian arrested in Tunisia for terrorism, by seeking his release and financing legal aid.
Between 2014 and 2016, the ROS Carabinieri conducted an extensive investigation involving the monitoring of social media activity and the interception of communications. Afli was placed under surveillance after being identified among the Facebook contacts of confirmed foreign fighters. The basis for charges under articles 270 bis and 414 of the Italian Penal Code was his digital footprint, including posts and conversations about Syria and jihad. These charges alleged participation in and propaganda for a terrorist organisation.
Despite the gravity of the initial accusations, the court found no concrete evidence of a link between Afli and terrorist networks or acts of violence. His Facebook activity was deemed insufficient to constitute criminal propaganda or incitement, lacking any real persuasive power or intent to recruit. Afli was ultimately acquitted of all charges, with the court concluding that “the facts do not exist”.
