Answer to a Question
Question:
In a country where all its people profess Islam, the country of a million martyrs for its jihad against the French occupation that lasted 132 years, popular protests broke out, breaking the barrier of fear of the tyrants of Algeria from 22/02/2019 until today. However, these protests are not calling for Islam! What are the reasons for this? Furthermore, what is the reality of the international struggle for influence in Algeria? Does it have a role in what is happening? What is expected, especially regarding the elections?
Answer:
To clarify the answer, we review the following matters:
First: The reason for the lack of calls for Islam in the movement (Hirak):
Yes, Algeria is an authentic Islamic country. This was proven when the state appeared to open the way for free and fair elections in the early nineties. The result was that the call for the implementation of Allah’s Sharia was overwhelming and carried by millions in the streets of Algeria. Europe was alarmed, and France threatened military intervention. Then, France and Europe pushed the rulers of Algeria in early 1992 to renounce the results of the 1991 elections. The army intervened and declared its control over the country. The most prominent support for Algeria’s rulers came from the capital of darkness, "Paris," which is falsely and slanderously called the "City of Light." Subsequently, French intelligence, in cooperation with its local security agencies, ignited the sparks of brutal massacres, inaugurating an era of hideous massacres in the nineties that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Muslims in Algeria. Then, without shame, the regime in Algeria, backed by France and Britain, attributed all these massacres to the Islamists. The calamity became widespread as the regime linked every drop of blood and massacre to the Islamists. This period lasted nearly ten years and was thus called the "Black Decade." The regime began to spread fear in the minds of the people regarding calling for Islam, suggesting that anyone calling for the rule of Islam wants to bring back the Black Decade! The French press carried this banner of intimidation, and fear of Islam became an obsession for politicians in Paris. This French and European fear and obsession regarding the Algerian movement calling for Islam was immediately transferred to the Algerian regime. ("Parties close to the decision-making circles in the country promoted that the 'Islamists' would turn against the secularists and plan for the establishment of an Islamic state to be built on the ruins of the secularists and perhaps even on their bodies if necessary"... Independent 21/03/2019). Thus, the regime warns the people day and night against the "bogeyman of extremist Islam" which is ready to shed blood! This is despite the fact that it is the regime that pursues Muslims and spills blood. (Algerian security forces attacked a well-known opponent, considered one of the founders of the Islamic Salvation Front, Ali Belhadj, and dragged him through one of the streets. Arabi21, 23/02/2019), which was on the second day of the outbreak of protests in Algeria!
This is in addition to the American war on Islam, which took "Islamic terrorism" as its broad title. All sincere people in the Islamic world—including movements, parties, associations, and personalities—were targeted and labeled with terrorism. Islamic symbols, such as banners, were criminalized, and those adhering to Sharia rulings were described as extremists and terrorists, etc. All of this has also cast its shadow on the demands of the popular movement in Algeria.
Among the reasons that hindered the emergence of Islamic demands in the Algerian movement is what stuck in people's minds about some movements of an Islamic character called "moderate." They saw them sometimes calling themselves opposition movements and at other times participating in the government, holding ministerial portfolios and parliamentary seats. This participation affected a large segment of the people, especially those who trusted these movements to be working for Islam, only to find them working with the regime. This is not to mention the Sharia rulings they did not adhere to, such as the prohibition of man-made legislation in parliaments and the prohibition of participating in systems that have nothing to do with Islam. This prompted a significant segment of Algerians not to mention Islam in the movement.
Finally, the international struggle over Algeria to extend influence and the desperate attempt by the West, "especially France," to spread secular culture and highlight leaders affiliated with it in the movement. These leaders are certainly secular so that the West can achieve its political influence in Algeria through them. It should be noted that the parties to the international conflict in Algeria are in complete agreement on obliterating the Islamic identity of Algeria and highlighting the secular character of the state.
These are the deep-seated reasons that facilitated the emergence of the secular character of the popular movement in Algeria. Behind all of them are the deception, misguidance, and political malice of the West and its agents. Although it has succeeded outwardly in preventing Islam from emerging in the movement, Islam remains settled in the depths of the hearts of the Algeria of a million martyrs. Its emergence will not be delayed, Allah willing, and tomorrow is near for those who await it.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْراً
"Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent." (Surah At-Talaq [65]: 3)
Second: As for the international struggle in Algeria:
1. Regarding Britain and France: a. Since Boumediene's coup in 1965, British influence has been dominant in Algeria, accompanied by some French protrusions. However, after the dismissal of the French agent Khaled Nezzar from the Ministry of Defense in 1993, France's influence began to weaken gradually within the army until it reached a state closer to "military culture" affiliation rather than political loyalty. Bouteflika—known for his loyalty to Britain—during his long rule since 1999, resorted to treating those French protrusions gradually and without causing an uproar. The matter of removing French influence from state institutions was closer to a sporting competition; no signs of heating up appeared from either side regarding the issue of influence, which took on the character of competition. However, Bouteflika's dismissal of the Director of General Intelligence, Mohamed Mediène, known as (General Toufik), on 13/09/2015, was a painful blow to French influence in Algeria. France had been largely removed from the army and had remained dependent on intelligence as almost the sole security pillar for its influence in Algeria. This painful blow lit the fire under the ashes of the apparent calm in the relationship between the two influences in Algeria.
b. Two circumstances occurred that took the competition between British and French influence in Algeria out of the state of sporting competition, and the struggle between them became closer to "arm-twisting," though it has not reached the point of "breaking bones." These two circumstances that made the competition between the two countries hot are: First: Britain's referendum to leave the European Union (Brexit) in 2016. This widened the gap between Britain and France, which was evident in the rigidity of France (the European Union) in its negotiations with British Prime Minister May. It also appeared in the new Prime Minister Johnson's plans to leave the Union even without an agreement, which is very harmful to France. The disagreement also appeared in the issue of America escalating the crisis with Iran after its withdrawal from the nuclear deal; while France adopted a position different from that of America, Britain was closer to it. Disagreements between them continued to expand, and these new British-French disagreements are reflected in their positions in other places like Algeria.
Second: The outbreak of the popular movement in Algeria on 22/02/2019. France saw that the state of instability in Algeria and the shaking of the pillars of British influence there constituted an opportunity to re-establish greater influence for itself. That is, the spontaneous popular movement exposed the latent French fire since 2015!
c. As a result, the state of competition between them moved to the level of "arm-twisting." Security services uncovered a plan similar to a military coup to remove Gaid Salah from the leadership of the Army Staff. Accordingly, security services arrested the strongest and most dangerous of France's men in Algeria: Mohamed Mediène (General Toufik) and Bachir Tartag, both former directors of the intelligence service, who were arrested on 05/05/2019. This was followed by the arrest of Louisa Hanoune, leader of the Workers' Party, on 09/05/2019. Added to them is Said Bouteflika, who appears to have been recruited by France's men in Algeria to their side, especially after the resignation of his brother, President Bouteflika. They were tried (An Algerian military court in Blida sentenced four defendants to 15 years in prison for conspiring against the authority of the state and the army. The sentences were issued in the presence of Said Bouteflika, Louisa Hanoune, and retired General Mohamed Mediène... The military court in the city of Blida also sentenced former Defense Minister Khaled Nezzar to 20 years in prison in absentia. Sky News Arabia on 25/09/2019). France protested against the military leadership in Algeria because of the arrests. When Louisa Hanoune was arrested, according to the British Independent on 18/05/2019, 1,000 French figures, including former Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, signed an initiative demanding her release. The newspaper added: ("The deputy for the Republican Party in the French Parliament, Jean Lassalle, expressed fear of the impact of events on his country's interests, saying that 'the rise of a new generation of officers and generals in the Algerian military establishment, with a concentrated nationalist formation and framing, threatens French interests in Algeria, especially in the cultural, economic, and political aspects'"). This indicates France's distress over what is happening; this struggle has begun to take a direction involving some heating up, even though Britain's side is more likely to prevail in the regime supported by the Chief of Staff of the Army.
2. America's attempts to penetrate the Algerian arena: American media outlets have tried to promote some personalities who emerged in the popular movement, such as Karim Tabbou, the former Secretary-General of the Socialist Forces Front. American Al-Hurra on 12/09/2019 described him as ("the most prominent face in the popular movement" and promoted videos of Karim Tabbou "leading marches in the Algerian capital as part of the popular movement, promoting his 'real opposition to the authorities, unlike other parties'"). This perhaps indicates the existence of American contacts with such activists in the popular movement in Algeria. The Algerian security services arrested this activist and others and charged him with "weakening the morale of the army." Assuming there are American contacts with symbols of the popular movement in Algeria, which is expected, such individuals have not reached the level of ability to influence political life in Algeria that America aspires to, as it has not yet been able to infiltrate influence within the army or state institutions.
For all these reasons, the Algerian arena is almost devoid of a European-American conflict; rather, it is between Britain and France, with a serious attempt by Britain and its military system to clip the French wings present in the arena. As for American attempts, they have not succeeded in penetrating the European role in Algeria, even though the ruling gang in Algeria fears that the long period of the crisis—the popular movement—may enable America to achieve a breakthrough it has been seeking for years. Indeed, France may also exploit the long period of the movement to activate its followers and provide opportunities for them.
Third: As for what is expected regarding the elections, it can be understood as follows:
Britain, those currently in power, and the army leadership have managed to largely remove France's men from state institutions. Therefore, this system has begun to hasten the elections so that these circumstances do not change, especially since the movement is continuing. Gaid Salah said ("Previously, we were talking about the need to accelerate the holding of presidential elections. Today, we are completely certain that these elections will take place within the specified deadlines." Independent 14/09/2019). He also demanded a clear position, such as ("his announcement that the current period requires a clear position: 'There is no room for holding the stick from the middle... either with Algeria or with its enemies'", Independent 14/09/2019). This is an indicator that the ruling system affiliated with the British is hastening the resolution today because things relatively seem to be in its favor. As for France and the forces affiliated with it, they oppose holding these elections or wish to postpone them for a circumstance that suits them, but they do not issue public statements to that effect. Instead, they say it diplomatically: that the Algerian people are the ones who decide the affairs of their country!
The ruling system is trying to push candidates from its followers into the presidential elections after changing their colors. (Former Prime Ministers Ali Benflis and Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced on Thursday their candidacy for the presidential elections to be held on December 12. Reuters 28/09/2019). These and their like are trusted faces of the ruling system. Some of them play the role of the opposition today; Ali Benflis, leader of the Vanguard of Freedoms party, presents himself as an opposition party and calls for change. Its leader Benflis was Bouteflika's prime minister between 2000-2003. This means that this system wants to renew the regime with relatively new faces, hoping that this will deceive the people of Algeria and end the movement!
Despite this, it appears that the broader sectors of the spontaneous popular movement rejecting the elections under the same regime are much stronger than the voices supporting the regime or the parties called the opposition that might support the elections. This leads the country toward one of two possibilities:
- Either the current ruling system will be forced to postpone the elections at the last moment, as happened with the 18/04/2019 election date, which was postponed...
- Or significantly flawed elections will be held, so that the popular movement continues as if the elections did not happen, even if some forces break away from the movement. But then, the conditions would be ripe for acts of violence carried out by the authorities to put an end to the movement after claiming that a legitimate president has been elected and that it is necessary to adhere to his decisions! Thus, matters continue in turmoil with back-and-forth tension.
- Thus, the current movement will not produce real change or an influential revival because, although it arose spontaneously, the interventions of Britain, France, and their followers deprive the movement of its effectiveness. This is especially true after the curtain was lifted on the alignment of the army leadership with the regime; rather, it is an integral part of it, commanding and forbidding. This means that change cannot be brought about in Algeria except by shifting the loyalty of the army in favor of the authentic Islam of this people. This is possible and achievable after removing the senior generals who are agents of Britain and the West, and enabling the sincere group of officers to take control of matters within the army, then supporting the real change that the Ummah aspires to on the basis of Islam. This does not mean that the military should hold power, but rather that they should be the people of support (Nusrah) for the truth. Then the real leadership that the Ummah awaits will come to bring about comprehensive change, by resuming the Islamic way of life and establishing the Rightly Guided Khilafah that revives the Ummah and its resources. We return to being as Allah wanted us to be:
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ
"You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah." (Surah Al-Imran [3]: 110)
وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ * بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ يَنْصُرُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ
"And on that day the believers will rejoice in the victory of Allah. He gives victory to whom He wills, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful." (Surah Ar-Rum [30]: 4-5)
4th of Safar Al-Khair 1441 AH 03/10/2019 CE