Mustafa Chaddad

Mustafa Chaddad, born on July 2, 1973, in Esal Alward, Syria, was living in Olbia. His arrest in 2018 can be considered as a continuation of the 2015 DIGOS operation that initially detained Sultan Wali Khan, a Pakistani man allegedly in charge of an Islamist cell close to al-Qaeda. According to the prosecution, Mustafa Chaddad was part of a terrorist network directed and organised by Anwar Daadoue, operating in Italy with branches in several European countries that was financially supporting Jabhat al-Nusra.
In April 2015, Chaddad was ordered by Italian authorities a pre-trial detention and, alongside Anwar Daadoue, Abdulkarim Haj Osman, and Lahoucine Air Wahmane, was accused of terrorism participation and terrorism financing. In particular, he was charged under articles 270 bis of the Italian Penal Code, and under Law 16 March 2006 no. 146 for having taken part in a transnational association under the directives of Daadoue based in Italy, Sweden, Germany, Syria and Turkey with the aim of committing terrorist acts towards Syrian people, as well as of doing proselytism through the internet and financing towards the Syrian jihadist association Jabhat al-Nusra since 2014. Chaddad was also accused of terrorism financing through hawaladars in Italy, Sweden, Syria and Turney since 2014 and charged under art. 131-ter of D.Lgs 1 September 1993, n. 385; art. 11 of the D.Lgs 27 January 2010, and Law 16 March 2006, no. 146.
According to the prosecution, Anwar Daadoue was managing various hawala offices throughout Europe, his right hand man was Haj Osman who handled money through his headquarters in Olbia, while Wahmane and Mustafa Chadad were his collaborators. Chaddad played a critical role in raising and directing funds, using zakat and Daadoue’s hawala system to move money discretely. For example, in 2016, he reached out to Haj Osman to encourage participation in a fundraising campaign managed by Syrians from the Aasal region. This operation collected around €30,000, which was later transferred by Daadoue’s trusted contacts for delivery to Syria. Beyond fundraising, Chaddad was involved in providing logistical support for foreign fighters headed to Syria, coordinating with Haj Osman to secure them with fake documents.
Mustafa Chaddad’s conversations and actions reveal a strong ideological alignment with religious fundamentalism, particularly with groups opposing the Assad regime in Syria. His support for al-Nusra is evident in various phone exchanges, where he frequently expressed approval of their military successes and their spiritual leader, Abdullah al-Muhaysini. For example, in December 2014, Chaddad and Lahcen Challot commented on al-Nusra’s territorial gains, sharing admiration for al-Muhaysini’s leadership. Their discussions also indicate disdain for the Islamic State, a sentiment that sets him apart from Haj Osman, who supported the Islamic State. Through these conversations, Chaddad affirmed his commitment to groups like al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham. Chaddad’s anti-Shiite stance also emerged, as he and his associates frequently reiterated the need to eliminate Shiites in the region, further underscoring his support for extremist causes. Court documents also reveals that Mustafa Chaddad’s connection with anti-government militias in Syria, including close ties with military leaders such as Abbas Samir Hossin, commander of the Suquor al Sham brigades, and Mudar Shaddad, a battalion commander within the Islamic State. Chaddad had also been involved in the travel arrangements of a few combatants to Lebanon to fight alongside Chaddad.
In addition to financial and logistical support, Chaddad Mustafa actively engaged in proselytism and recruitment for jihadist causes. Using a fake Facebook profile, he promoted extremist ideology, aiming to recruit and incite potential combatants.
In June 2021, Mustafa Chaddad was sentenced to five years and six months for the crimes of terrorist association and terrorist financing. In March 2024, the Court of Cassation confirmed the previous sentence.