The story of Dutch-Moroccan Younes Finani, from crime to writing

Younes Finani, 27, was jailed for almost seven years and was one of the Netherlands’ most wanted criminals. The Amsterdam-based Dutch-Moroccan, is about to publish a book about his teenage years, his life as a criminal and the lessons he learned from it, Crimesite wrote.

His story starts in Jordaa, a district in Amsterdam. Younes left his parents’ house at the age of fifteen and found himself in a juvenile center.

He started stealing and selling drugs. A journey that ended abruptly with his arrest. But after this arrest, the Dutch-Moroccan «repented», thanks to «his strong will». In prison, he obtained a HAVO diploma, the minimum requirement for admission to universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands and said he was determined to publish his book, as «the first Dutch-Moroccan ex-criminal from Amsterdam to write a book».

Entitled «Het verhaal van Johannes uit de Jordaan» (The Story of John of the Jordaan), the book is almost over.

Younes Finani has launched a crowdfunding campaign to be able to publish this «uncensored story that takes place in the streets of Amsterdam». «I haven't had the easiest life. For years, I was caught in the vicious circle of Amsterdam crime and spent more than seven years of my life in prison», he wrote.

«I am done with crime. It's a dead end. As an expert, I would only discourage others from adopting a criminal lifestyle», he concluded.