Abdul Nacer Benbrika | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1960 (age 63–64) Aflou, Algeria |
| Nationality | Algerian, Australian |
| Occupation | Muslim cleric |
| Criminal status | Released |
| Conviction(s) | Guilty on 15 September 2008 |
| Criminal charge | Intentionally being the leader and a member of a terrorist organisation |
| Penalty | 15 years' jail with a non-parole period of 12 years |
Abdul Nacer Benbrika (Arabic: عبد الناصر بن بريكة) (born in Algeria c. 1960), also known as Abu Bakr (Arabic: أبو بكر), is a convicted criminal, who served a custodial sentence of fifteen years, with a non-parole period of twelve years, for intentionally being the leader and a member of a terrorist organisation. Benbrika 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 Australia. 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 as charged and subsequently sentenced.
Benbrika completed his sentence on 5 November 2020, but was kept in jail under an interim order from the Victorian Supreme Court requested by the Federal Government's Department of Home Affairs who applied to the court to keep him detained.
On 1 November 2023, Benbrika won his High Court bid to restore his Australian citizenship, which was cancelled in 2020,[1] and on 19 December 2023 the Victorian Supreme Court, granted his release under a 12 month extended supervision order.