France loves to boast about its so-called “Colonial Heritage” in Algeria. They like to draw attention to the roads, infrastructures, and train tracks that they had built.
However, they tend to conveniently overlook the insidious cultural influences they left in their wake within modern Algeria.
It is revealing that those who accredit themselves exclusively with Algeria’s technical progress seem to also remain deafeningly silent when it comes to Algeria’s politics, economics, and education.
What is even more disingenuous is that we see some thinkers actually blaming Islam for Algeria’s current situation. The truth, however, is that Algeria’s recent history closely resembles the post-revolution turmoil of France: revolution, civil war, and an ineffective republic. Algeria is essentially following in the footsteps of its former colonizer.
It is disheartening to see that some of the main causes of conflict in North Africa, including Algeria, have little or nothing to do with any Islamic principles. Rather, they align significantly more closely with modern political theories and post-enlightenment thinking.
Take, for example, Algeria’s support for the Polisario tribes in the East and West Sahara, which is driven by a belief in national sovereignty over territories. This oddly resembles Hobbesian theories of politics and post-enlightenment ideas of democracy. Algeria even takes sides in conflicts such as the one that exists between Cyprus and Turkey, and it supports the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), whose slogan is “one democratic liberty” (حرية ديمقراطية وحدة).
The reason this is truly a shame is because if there is any aspect of Algeria’s heritage that is actually worthy of taking pride in, it is the martyrdom of those who fought bravely against France. This sacrifice of theirs is symbolized by the red crescent and star that sit at the heart of the Algerian flag.
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We dedicate this article in honor of our fallen hero, Yacef Saadi. It saddened us deeply to learn that Yacef Saadi passed away two years ago. He played a pivotal role in Algeria’s struggle for independence, and he led the rebellion in the capital during the notorious “Battle of Algiers.” This battle remains a key episode in the War of Independence (1954-1962). Even at the ripe old age of 93, Yacef Saadi was a fearless leader who defied the colonizer’s armies until independence was achieved, with unwavering determination, courage, and sacrifice.
Minister Laid Rebiga rightfully praised Yacef Saadi as a relentless leader who stood firm against the colonizers and fought with unrivaled willpower until Algeria finally regained its freedom and autonomy. An article published in The Maghrib Times, entitled “Algeria: Death of Yacef Saadi, Hero of the Battle of Algiers,” dated September 13, 2021, reports:
Yacef Saadi, the hero of the struggle for Algeria’s independence and leader of the rebellion in the capital during the Battle of Algiers, one of the key episodes of the War of Independence, died Friday evening at the age of 93.
The Mojahedin (ex-combatants) Minister Laid Rebiga hailed in a statement “a reckless leader who challenged the colonizer’s armies and fought them with an iron will, courage and abnegation until the recovery of independence”.
Yacef Saadi will be buried late Saturday afternoon in El Kettar cemetery in Algiers, according to the official APS agency.
RELATED: Will France Ever Repent from Its Colonial Past (and Present)?
Let us remember and cherish the memory of Yacef Saadi. Firstly, because the struggle for independence in Algeria represents one of the greatest tragedies of our time. Secondly, because these brave warriors were our dear Muslim brothers who resisted occupation and colonization. And thirdly, because we often tend to forget just how recent and severe the crimes committed by the West truly are.
Yesterday, we lost one of our modern heroes. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. May Allah shower him with mercy and forgiveness; grant patience and forbearance to those he has left behind; and reunite them with him in Jannah.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.
RELATED: The Algerian Genocide: How France Killed Millions of Muslims
رحمه الله تعالى
Thank you Daniel. We will never forget what France did and do against Muslims. I know the day will come for it to pay. Thank God for the day of judgement
ِAnd still doing to Islam and the Muslims.
When will the next MGAP episode and genius of Islam coming out?
Change my mind: the western people are the most easy to convince that someone else is not human or less human or even less than human.
Hindus basically drink this tendency with their mother’s milk.
writing about modrn figures in our struggle. to not forget and take the lossons and not forget our identity and the honhor and the people who have dignity and integrity. Never fold Or sell out and stay steadfast and firm and sacrifice for our freedom and rise
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I want to propose an idea to make a nikah group community of some sort so followers of the Muslim Skeptic’s ideologies and understansing (which is that of orthodox Islam) can find spouses with similiar beliefs and ideologies and thus get along better In shaa Allah, because sadly it seems the world outside is filled with evil people, feminists, and brainwashed Muslims.
So perhaps this would help those young Muslims who are looking for nikah and to build a traditional Islamic household.