Latest from Chahrazade Douah
The French Soldiers Who Disobeyed Orders in Algeria
The atrocities committed by the French army are still rarely publicly acknowledged in France today. Even less discussed are those within the military’s ranks who, confronted with these horrors, defied orders, refused to participate or supported the Algerians.
The Roots of France’s Riots
“We know it is the only way to get heard, the only way the media will talk about us, our anger. And don’t be mistaken, we weren’t just Arabs and Black kids; there were many others with us,” he said. In Mulhouse, in eastern France, young men shared the same conclusions. “It’s our revolt,” said Mehdi. “And if nothing changes, we will carry on, we have no other way, we are fed up.”
In Egypt, Foreigners Dominate Belly Dancing
Foreign belly dancers, who hail from Eastern Europe, Latin America and the United States, were brought in to fill the space left by Egyptian dancers and now uphold what is viewed as a quintessential Egyptian art.
The Algerians of New Caledonia
Over 2,000 insurgents, among them leaders of the revolt, faced trial in Constantine, Algeria, where they were presented not as anti-colonial leaders but as petty criminals. Because most of the men hailed from noble families, however, the French were wary of sentencing them to death. Instead, they decided to exile the men to the farthest place imaginable: New Caledonia.