International Journal on Criminology Volume 4, Number 2, Winter 2016 | Page 54

International Journal on Criminology
Reinforced by Hattab’s men, Belhadjar organized the ambush in which Zitouni died
with two of his companions. Belhadjar later gave himself up to the authorities with his
accomplices, with all of them benefitting from the law on civil concord. Withdrawing
with his group to the mountains in the east of the country, Hattab continues to engage
in terrorism to this day.
The “reformist” ideology profited all of the Salafists immensely. It allowed
them to establish themselves “legitimately” according to their own criteria, since
idjtihad is licit for everyone. All of the Algerian terrorist groups acted under the
Salafist banner, each serving “the cause of Islam” according to their own whims and
fantasies.
Terrorists Imitating Organized Crime
Controlling Territories
“Classic” terrorists copy the military system: hierarchies, division of labor,
training, and discipline. In my view, terrorism today is much closer to the major
criminal societies, a characteristic that we can find in all of the new terrorisms,
including in their objectives, which are supposed to differentiate them. Under the
cover of political discourse and demands, terrorists today in fact aim for quick gain
and personal wealth by using the methods of professional criminals, as can be seen
with the GIA and other groups active in Algeria.
In contrast to the military world, the choice of leader of these terrorist neogroups
is inspired by criteria inspired by the underworld: criminal capabilities,
dangerousness, and know-how determine his aptitude to lead the group and win the
trust of the executives and “soldiers” of the organization The leader names himself
by counting on his clan, a process similar to designating a mafia godfather, which
is then confirmed by allegiances. Once named, this leader is almost indisputable, in
position for life. In every terrorist group, there is an executive council to rule on
internal disputes, allegiance to the “emir,” and legitimize different behaviors. This
council also produces fatwas on homicide, rape, racketeering, and other criminal acts.
Sponsored and led by the Emir, who names his closest colleagues to the council, or
removes them, it functions like the councils of mafia “families.”
The terrorist group controls a territory and does not venture into another
group’s territory, as all recognize they are rivals. When a group does wish to conquer
another group’s territory, it starts by attacking the local population or state symbols
to intimidate the population or its rivals by giving them notice to withdraw. These
practices of marking territory also aim to show the local populace that the rival cannot
protect them.
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