During the Algerian War of Independence, Algeria fought to be free of French sovereignty, which lasted from 1954 to 1962. Despite being colonized and exploited for its rich resources, Algeria differed from other French-occupied regions as it was not formally classed as a colony.
Algeria became a part of France in 1834, and the Second Republic’s Constitution of 1848 recognized it as such. According to Interior Minister François Mitterrand, he declared that “Algeria is France. And France will recognize no authority in Algeria other than her own,” in November 1954, opposing the Algerian independence movement. This proclamation established the government’s domination by justifying the introduction of martial rule, often known as “police operations,” which gave the colonizers power over Algeria’s legislative, judicial, and administrative processes (Kleinman, 2012, p. 2)1.
Unforgettable History: French War Crimes in Algeria
The French colonization of Algeria was brutal, with estimates suggesting that between 600,000 and 1.5 million Algerians were killed. Thousands of Algerians endured torture and executions, and in the prefecture of Algiers alone, a minimum of 3,000 Algerians were reported as “disappeared,” (Cohen, 2002, p. 221)2.
Furthermore, the French war against Algeria was so horrific that early critics of the war drew parallels between French brutality in Algeria and the atrocities committed by the Germans during World War II (Cohen, 2002, p. 222)3. Frequent reports of French torture in Algeria became so common that the French government had to dispatch two missions to examine the allegations. Inspector General Administration Roger Wuillaume and the Director of the Surete Jean Mairey were appointed for this task, and both validated the cases of severe torture.
In the year 2020, Algeria was handed 24 freedom fighters’ heads that were severed during the period of French colonial rule in Algeria. These remains had been stored in a museum in Paris until then. The French preserved the heads of Algerians as if they were trophies (AFP, 2020)4, revealing the ruthlessness and cruelty of the French, as well as the ongoing support from Western powers towards France and their backing of the occupying state of Israel.
The Setif and Guelma Massacre: Remembering the Killing of 45,000 Algerians by French Supremacists
On 8 May 1945, anti-French protests had been growing throughout Algeria for several months. Approximately 4,000 protesters from Setif, a northern Algerian town, participated in these demonstrations.
General De Gaulle, who was leading the temporary government of France at that time, issued orders to kill farmers and villagers from the neighbouring areas. The rapid accumulation of thousands of bodies made traditional burials impossible, leading to many bodies being disposed of in wells. The violence persisted until 22 May, resulting in the killing of approximately 45,000 Algerian men, women, and children by the French army in and around the Setif, Guelma, and Kherrata regions (Middle East Monitor, 2017)5.
France’s sexual abuse against the Algerian people: a psychological warfare tactic aimed at undermining the resilience of Indigenous Algerians
From the beginning of the Algerian war, the primary concern for many critics centred on the use of torture. In 1955, it was admitted that the French army had an interrogation officer whose job was to gain information by all means, mainly through the use of torture. Due to the training provided in specialized schools, French soldiers applied specific techniques against individuals, resulting in the torture of thousands of Algerians during the French colonization. The fact that French army troops tortured Algerian citizens is undeniable, as confirmed by records within the archives of the French army (Cohen, 2001, p. 82)6.
In an effort to gain control and fight off counter-decolonization by native Algerians, the French Army resorted to the use of torture tactics, with a particular focus on sexual abuse:
- “Both men and women were subject to similar methods of sexualized torture in detention centers. Electrodes (using a gégène) were applied to the breasts and genitals. Men’s testicles were crushed or burned away with electric shocks. Women and men could be raped with various objects. However, the consequences and implications of rape for women in colonial Algeria functioned differently than for men,” (Kleinman, 2012, p. 16)7.
- “Algerian men, often forced to watch as their wives or daughters were violated, were humiliated in turn by their inability to protect their female family members. It is through this association that rape gained its force as a collective act of violence,” (Kleinman, 2012, p. 16)8.
Furthermore, delving into the disturbing incidents of sexual abuse inflicted by the French in Algeria, a true story that continues to be spoken about is the case of Djamila Boupacha. This narrative unfolded on the night of 10 February 1960, when French military forces conducted a raid on the Boupacha family home near Algiers. The French soldiers forcibly entered their home, began to beat the family members, and later arrested twenty-two-year-old Djamila Boupacha. She suffered beatings, torture, and rape at the hands of members of the French Army.
“Unlike thousands of other torture cases brought before military tribunals in Algeria during the French-Algerian War, the details of Djamila Boupacha’s story received considerable public attention in metropolitan France. Her case became a cause célèbre during a colonial war of independence which brought down France’s Fourth Republic and irrevocably altered the political, social, and economic landscape of both France and Algeria,” (Kleinman, 2012, p. 1)9.
The claimed Western civilization aims to apply morality in African and Asian nations. Yet, it resorts to inflicting torture, abuse, and rape upon men and women to dehumanize and humiliate them. Still, this satanic behaviour fails to recognize that the true humiliation resides in the oppressor, whose only method of asserting power is through the use of abusive tactics.
The Colonization of Algeria: Unveiling the Racism Embedded in this Colonial Project
The colonization of Algeria was fundamentally tied to racism, a trait inherent in any form of colonization. The term “colonization” often evokes the image of White European settlers, and the case of Algeria, enduring 132 years of colonization by France, exemplifies a manifestation of White supremacy and racism. In February 2017, while visiting Algeria, Emmanuel Macron characterized Algeria’s colonization with the words:
“It was a crime, a crime against humanity. This barbarity belongs to a past that we must face up to; we must apologize to the people against whom these crimes were committed,” (Giblin, 2021)10.
Emmanuel Macron expresses these remarks about crimes in Algeria yet concurrently lends support to “Israel” and the occupation of Palestine, including endorsing war crimes committed in the occupied territories. Macron’s use of the phrase “we must face up to” implies a lack of acknowledgment of France’s crimes in Algeria, making his statements nothing but empty words.
However, there are no elevated expectations from a country that has previously subjected the Algerian people to brutal colonization and destabilization. This issue remains connected to discussions on racism and white superiority, showcasing to the world that France would never genuinely acknowledge its war crimes in Algeria, along with other massacres in Asia and Africa, as it contradicts the fundamental purpose of its colonization. The belief that the application of colonialism and European civilization is imperative for the development of societies, whether in Algeria or other regions of Africa and Asia, reinforces the inherently racist idea that people of colour and marginalized communities require European / White influence for their progress.
The Dynamic Connection Between Algerian Independence and the Oslo Accords: the Myth of Coexistence with the Enemy
On 13 September 1993, the Oslo Accords were signed at the White House in Washington. PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and “Israeli” Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin had signed this “agreement,” and within this agreement11 (MPPM, 2023), it acknowledged the right to existence and security of the occupying regime of “Israel.”
However, this document was not only a betrayal to the Palestinian people but also a manifestation of submission to the American regime, particularly to the “Israeli” occupying state. Some liberal Zionists advocate for a two-state solution or peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and “Israelis.”
This stance prompts a critical reflection on the Algerian liberation struggle as the question arises: Why did native Algerians not accept peaceful coexistence with French colonialism? Because betraying one’s identity and submitting to the enemy was never an option.
The Oslo Accords, focusing on Yasser Arafat, are explicit acts of betrayal. When analyzing various liberation movements, such as the Algerian liberation for independence, the concept of peaceful coexistence with the enemy is never the answer. The oppressor, responsible for murder, rape, assault, and maintaining a superiority complex, is not a person with whom you would want to have discussions with about peaceful matters. A human being subjected to imprisonment without reason, humiliation, and the theft of their home would understandably reject the idea of allowing the oppressor to live on their land, claiming it as their own. We reject all peaceful negotiations, just as the Algerians rejected any peace talks with French colonizers on their land. Similarly, the Palestinians shall reject any peace talks with “Israeli” settlers on theirs.
Revolutionizing Against the Colonizers: Algerians Breaking Free from Their Shackles
Brutality was inherent in the interactions between the colonizer and the colonized, and Frantz Fanon’s book “Wretched of the Earth” highlights this dynamic:
“Our precious sets of values begin to molt; on closer scrutiny, you won’t see one that isn’t stained with blood. If you are looking for an example, remember these fine words: “How generous France is!” Us, generous? What about Setif, then? And those eight years of ferocious war which have cost the lives of over a million Algerians? And the tortures?”
(Fanon, 1963, p. 26)12.
Fanon explains the process of colonization and the mental and psychological journey undergone by the colonized to recognize their worth and existence. The colonized individual is consistently belittled, minimized, and told that they are inferior, with the White / European man being portrayed as superior. They are led to believe that they will never achieve anything due to their background and origin. However, as Dr. Fanon reveals, the colonized eventually breaks free from this mental oppression, and the only obstacle between them and their colonizer is their pursuit of freedom and liberation. This signifies the crucial moment of breaking the chains that imprisoned them:
“Thus the native discovers that his life, his breath, his beating heart are the same as those of the settler. He finds out that the settler’s skin is not of any more value than a native’s skin; and it must be said that this discovery shakes the world in a very necessary manner. All the new, revolutionary assurance of the native stems from it. For if, in fact, my life is worth as much as the settler’s, his glance no longer shrivels me up nor freezes me, and his voice no longer turns me into stone. I am no longer on tenterhooks in his presence; in fact, I don’t give a damn for him. Not only does his presence no longer trouble me, but I am already preparing such efficient ambushes for him that soon there will be no way out but that of flight,”
(Fanon, 1963, p. 45)13.
The settler asserts dominance over the colonized, and when discussing Algeria, it is inevitable to draw parallels with the courageous Palestinian people and their unwavering resilience for liberation. The events of 7 October 2023, as demonstrated by the Palestinians, unequivocally reject colonization, racism, and the imposition of a settler-colonial state created with the help of other settler-colonial countries. There is no space for a racist state to assert itself on the sacred land of Palestine, where Jesus (as) was born, and there is no tolerance for Zionism.
Drawing lessons from the war in Algeria and the French colonization of its people, with their brutal and nefarious war crimes, the Algerian people broke free, revolutionized, and shattered the chains imposed by the French. They defiantly confronted the West, dismantling the superiority barriers created by the French. The colonized individual comes to the realization that enough is enough and that bowing to the oppressor is worse than the oppression itself.
Algeria Liberates Itself from French Colonialism: Beloved Palestine, Your Turn is Coming
The Evian Accords represented France’s initial recognition of Algeria’s independence (Toumi, 2022)14, concluding 132 years of French colonization, abuse, torture, and identity theft. On 19 March 1962, a ceasefire was initiated, and Algerians designated that day as Victory Day.
Ultimately, on 5 July 1962, Algeria, now the largest country in Africa and a central figure in the Maghrib region of North Africa, joyously marked its independence. The Algerian War triumphed against the French occupation, forcing the colonizer to acknowledge defeat and withdraw from Algerian territories.
It is our human duty to stand against oppression, wherever it may be, and to align ourselves on the right side of humanity. Whether facing French colonialism, Israeli occupation, American imperialism in the Arab world, or the infiltration of Western ideologies into societies, oppressors who perceive themselves as superior and powerful should be aware that, in the Hereafter, they hold no significance in the eyes of God, and justice will ultimately prevail.
Let this serve as an important reminder that if Algeria could reclaim its sovereignty after enduring 132 years of ruthless French colonization, then undoubtedly, the liberation of Palestine is an attainable goal within our reach.
Pro-Palestinian advocates and those on the right side of humanity feel sadness when witnessing the horrors of the Israeli-US-backed occupation unfold in Gaza, Jenin, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and across Palestine. However, we must remain firm and committed to our cause, constantly reminding ourselves that just as the Algerians resisted racist European powers, the Palestinians and their Resistance will also continue to resist, revolutionize, and, God willing, liberate all of Palestine. Indeed, victory is always near.
Sources:
1 Kleinman, S. (2012). Resistance, Representation, and War: Algerian Women, the French Army, and the Djamila Boupacha Case. Retrieved from: https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/72/53/00001/srkleinman-Kleinman%20-%20Thesis.pdf
2 Cohen, W. B. (2002). The Algerian War, the French State and Official Memory. Historical Reflections / Réflexions Historiques, 28(2), 219–239. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41299235
3 Cohen, W. B. (2002). The Algerian War, the French State and Official Memory. Historical Reflections, 28(2), 219–239. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41299235
4 AFP. (2020, March 7). France Returns Skulls of Algerians Who Fought Colonisation. Retrieved from: https://www.france24.com/en/20200703-france-returns-skulls-of-algerians-who-fought-colonisation
5 Middle East Monitor. (2017, May 8). Remembering the Massacre of 45,000 Algerians. Retrieved from: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170508-remembering-the-massacre-of-45000-algerians/
6 Cohen, W. B. (2001). The Sudden Memory of Torture: The Algerian War in French Discourse, 2000-2001. French Politics, Culture & Society, 19(3), 82–94. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/42843189
7 Kleinman, S. (2012). Resistance, Representation, and War: Algerian Women, the French Army, and the Djamila Boupacha Case. Retrieved from: https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/72/53/00001/srkleinman-Kleinman%20-%20Thesis.pdf
8 Kleinman, S. (2012). Resistance, Representation, and War: Algerian Women, the French Army, and the Djamila Boupacha Case. Retrieved from: https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/72/53/00001/srkleinman-Kleinman%20-%20Thesis.pdf
9 Kleinman, S. (2012). Resistance, Representation, and War: Algerian Women, the French Army, and the Djamila Boupacha Case. Retrieved from: https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/72/53/00001/srkleinman-Kleinman%20-%20Thesis.pdf
10 (2021). Retour géopolitique sur la situation postcoloniale et l’histoire coloniale de l’Algérie et du Maroc. Hérodote, 180, 180-202. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.3917/her.180.0180
11 Portuguese Movement for the Rights of Palestinian People and for Peace in the Middle East. (2018). 30 years Since the Oslo Accords: Promises Betrayed and Illusions Shattered. Retrieved from: https://www.mppm-palestina.org/tags/english
12 Fanon, F. (1963). *The Wretched of the Earth*. (C. Farrington, Trans.). New York: Grove Press. Published simultaneously in Canada. Printed in the United States of America. Retrieved from: https://monoskop.org/images/6/6b/Fanon_Frantz_The_Wretched_of_the_Earth_1963.pdf
13 Fanon, F. (1963). *The Wretched of the Earth*. (C. Farrington, Trans.). New York: Grove Press. Published simultaneously in Canada. Printed in the United States of America. Retrieved from: https://monoskop.org/images/6/6b/Fanon_Frantz_The_Wretched_of_the_Earth_1963.pdf
14 Toumi, A. (2022, March 26). The Evian Accords of 1962: The end of occupation in Algeria. French-Algerian relations are not natural nor extraordinary, and they are not going to get warmer on the eve of a crucial presidential election in France. Retrieved from: https://menaaffairs.com/the-evian-accords-of-1962-the-end-of-occupation-in-algeria/
