Algiers – The Algerian Parliament is currently deliberating a proposed law that aims to criminalize French colonialism. The National People’s Assembly’s National Defense Committee has begun discussions on the draft legislation, with a vote scheduled for December 24th. This development occurs amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France.
The final draft of the bill is slated to be presented to parliamentarians in a plenary session on December 21st, prior to the vote. The Speaker of the National People’s Assembly, Ibrahim Boughali, convened a meeting with members of the law’s drafting committee, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and a responsible dialogue that reflects the significance of this issue in the national consciousness and collective memory.
The proposed law comprises 26 articles grounded in international law, affirming the right of peoples to self-discovery, historical justice, and accountability. It specifically addresses crimes committed during the French colonization of Algeria, spanning from June 14, 1830, to July 5, 1962, and their direct and indirect consequences.
Article 5 of the bill identifies 27 specific colonial crimes as crimes against humanity. These include murder, attacks on civilians, the use of excessive force and internationally prohibited weapons, nuclear testing in the Algerian Sahara (specifically referencing “Gerboise Bleue”), extrajudicial executions, plunder, physical and psychological torture, racial discrimination, property confiscation, forced deportations, forced conscription, attacks on places of worship, and the persecution of civilians and resistance fighters.
The bill also addresses the forced deportation of Algerians to New Caledonia, classifying it as a crime against humanity. This tragic event involved the exile of hundreds of Algerian resistance fighters to New Caledonia in the 19th century. A memorial plaque stands opposite the port of Algiers in their memory. The event has been immortalized in Algerian art, notably in the song “Yalmenfi,” and chronicled by Algerian director Said Oulmi.
The legislative proposal seeks to establish the historical and legal responsibility of the French state for the actions committed during the colonial period.
