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The soap opera of tense relations between Paris and Algiers has seen yet another episode. Following France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and the arrest of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, the crisis between the two countries has been further exacerbated by the arrest of Algerian influencers living in France.
These young individuals, who are very active on social media, are suspected of acts ranging from incitement to hatred to advocacy of terrorism. About ten days ago, they posted videos calling for violent attacks on Algerian opponents and assaults on French territory. The public prosecutor's office immediately launched an investigation, notably following a complaint lodged by Chawki Benzehra, an Algerian opponent who has taken refuge in France. Three authors of these hate messages were questioned by judges on Monday, January 6.
In the case of Imad Tintin, the court ordered his detention and set the start of his trial for March 5. Youcef A. (Zazouyoussef) has also been remanded in custody. He will be tried on February 24 for advocacy of terrorism and faces up to seven years' imprisonment, reports Libération.
Both are also subject to an OQTF (obligation to leave French territory). A third influencer, Doualemn, was also arrested for «incitement to hatred» following a tip-off from the Socialist mayor of Montpellier. These arrests were welcomed by French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Tebboune led the way on December 24
The coming days could see further arrests. Three other Algerian nationals, also active on social media, are in the sights of French justice, including Sofia Benlemman. They have not hesitated to extend their attacks to Morocco, Moroccans, and King Mohammed VI.
The rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, French-Algerian Chems-eddine Hafiz, a former Polisario lawyer and close associate of President Tebboune, has inserted himself into this latest episode in the tense relations between Paris and Algiers. He attacked Algerian opponent Chawki Benzehra, the author of complaints against two Algerian influencers, calling him an «obscure blogger». The political refugee accused the Paris mosque of «seeking to destabilize France».
While the rector refrained from mentioning the arrests of the influencers in his statement, Algerian media pointed to «a new escalation» and «the far-right accusing Algeria of seeking to destabilize France».
These hate messages were posted in response to videos shared by young Algerians living in Algeria, condemning the political and economic conditions in their country. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was outraged by these calls: «Algeria cannot be destabilized by a hashtag (Manich Radi)», he said in his December 24 speech to walis and governors. It was the day after this presidential speech that the three arrested influencers began to make their threats.
