The Algerian Parliament unanimously approved this Wednesday a law which criminalizes the practices of French colonization in Algeria between 1830 and 1962, through which the former colony demanded recognition and reparation from Paris for what it considered “a state crime”.
The coordinator of the History and Memory of Algeria commission, Mohamed Lahcen Zeghidi, described the adoption of the law as a “historic moment”, which comes amid the worst diplomatic crisis between Algeria and France since the independence of the North African country.
Paris is requested in recognition
The new law, which parliamentarians say is based on “the principles of international law,” lists a broad list of practices considered “serious crimes”, among them, aggression against the Algerian state, homicides, torture, sexual rape, racial discrimination, plunder of resources, nuclear testing and use of banned weapons, among others.
The Minister of Mujahideen (fighters), Abdelmalek Tachrift, assured during the processing that the text does not designate the French people “nor seeks revenge” and demands that Paris recognize the “crimes” committed, the provision of maps of landmines installed by the French occupation and compensation for victims of damage caused by nuclear tests.
Likewise, the text plans to sanction any media, academic or political activity which glorifies or justifies French colonization, or deny its criminal character, with sentences varying between five and ten years in prison, in addition to financial fines.
This law constitutes a new attempt by Algeria to claim from France the recognition of crimes committed during colonization, after the Algerian authorities repeatedly asked Paris to officially assume responsibility.
France conducted its first nuclear test on February 13, 1960 in Reggane, southern Algeria, and these tests continued until 1966, with a total of 17 atmospheric and underground nuclear tests, eleven after the country’s independencewhich had serious consequences for the population and the environment.
The approval of this law coincides with a context of strong political tension between Algiers and Pariswhich broke out a year and a half ago, when France aligned itself with the Moroccan position on Western Sahara.
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