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Arab Spring Is Now Targeting Algeria

Algeria’s Islamists, in the political wilderness since their last attempt to win power dissolved into civil war, are now trying again, galvanized by the success of their brethren elsewhere in north Africa in the wake of the Arab Spring.

Published

14 years ago

December 8, 2011

Geoffrey Grider

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(Reuters) – Algeria’s Islamists, in the political wilderness since their last attempt to win power dissolved into civil war, are now trying again, galvanized by the success of their brethren elsewhere in north Africa in the wake of the “Arab Spring”.

Riot policemen clash with university students from marching during a demonstration in which they demand political change in Algiers May 2, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Zohra Bensemra

Most Islamists in Algeria have been excluded from political life since the conflict, but in the past few months they have shown renewed signs of activity, much of it conducted from exile to dodge the attentions of the Algerian state.

They have set up a satellite television station based in Europe, sent delegations to Arab countries that saw revolutions this year, and made tentative forays into anti-government protests.

Their chances of success are slim: they are divided into rival ideological camps, hemmed in by the powerful Algerian security apparatus, and, most importantly, discredited in the eyes of many people by a conflict in which they took part and which killed an estimated 200,000 people.

But they see an opportunity in the upheavals of the “Arab Spring,” which have this year unseated entrenched secularist leaders. In neighboring Tunisia, a previously outlawed Islamist movement has come to power, while in Egypt Islamists have taken a strong early lead in multi-stage parliamentary elections.

“Tunisia was an example and launcher of this (Arab Spring) revolution,” said Abdullah Anas, a London-based member of the leadership council of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), which is banned in Algeria.

“It could be a very good example for Algeria.”

LEGACY OF VIOLENCE

Any Islamist revival in Algeria, an OPEC member and supplier of about a fifth of Europe’s imported gas, would have first to shed the burden of the country’s bloody history.

Twenty years ago, FIS was poised to win a legislative election, called after street protests forced the authorities to loosen their grip on power. FIS said it would impose an Islamic state.

The military-backed government stepped in to annul the election. The Islamists took up arms and Algeria slipped into a conflict of horrific violence. Civilians had their throats slit in the street; in the mornings, people woke up to find their towns littered with bodies.

A rump of Islamists, now operating under the banner of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, is still fighting. They periodically ambush security forces in the countryside, kidnap Westerners and stage suicide bombings.

But the violence has subsided considerably. A huge security crackdown has rounded up thousands of insurgents. Others have laid down their arms and been granted an amnesty, in exchange for an undertaking to stay out of politics.

This legacy is the biggest obstacle to any comeback by Algeria’s Islamists.

“Since then (the conflict), the Islamist was no longer seen as a hero who stands up against tyranny,” said Soheib Bencheikh, a theologian who used to be the chief cleric at the mosque in Marseilles, France, where there is a large Algerian community.

“On the contrary, he became, in the eyes of public opinion, accountable for the pain and suffering of the people,” Bencheikh told Reuters.

A fear of a return to violence helps explain why Algeria has this year remained relatively calm while neighboring countries have been convulsed by unrest.

TV STATION

But the Islamists still believe that Algeria is ripe for change, and are beginning to take practical steps.

Starting in November, a group of exiled Islamists with links to FIS set up a Europe-based television station, called Rachad TV. Carried by the Atlantic Bird 7 and Nilesat satellites , the station can be picked up in Algeria, where most homes have a dish.

It broadcasts political and social programs where opposition leaders and activists — most of them harshly critical of the government — are invited to comment on Algeria.

At the top of the station’s homepage on the Internet, there is a link to show viewers “how to free your country”, and a second link to help them “organize and participate in unrest.”

The exiles say they are also building contacts with other countries where “Arab Spring” revolts have propelled Islamists into a position of power.

Rachad says on its website that it sent a delegation to Libya in late September to meet officials in the new government, in which Islamists have a prominent role.

Abdullah Anas, the exiled Islamist in London, said there had also been contacts with Rachid Ghannouchi, the head of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party. Since an election in October his party leads Tunisia’s coalition government.

Tunisia’s experience had proved that it is possible to open up the political space in north Africa, said Anas.

“Everyone in Algeria must understand that Algeria has room for all … no matter what opinions you have,” he said, calling for a lifting of political curbs and the possibility of power-sharing between previously antagonistic groups.

SALAFISTS STIRRING

Inside Algeria, the most influential Islamist force are the Salafists, followers of an ultra-purist interpretation of Islam. Unlike the FIS, they are tolerated by the Algerian state because their creed forbids participation in politics.

When Algeria was shaken at the beginning of this year by protests sparked by a spike in food prices, the spiritual leader of the Algerian Salafists, Abdelmalek Ramdani, who lives in Saudi Arabia, issued a religious decree.

It said: “As long as the commander of the nation is a Muslim, you must obey and listen to him. Those who are against him are just seeking to replace him, and this is not licit.”

Nevertheless, there are stirrings of political activity by some Salafist preachers.

Sheikh Abdelfateh Zeraoui, a former FIS member and now a well-known Salafist preacher in the Algerian capital, issued a declaration in October saying the government had to enact urgent reforms.

“Political reforms allowing us to have free political activity are key to the stability of the country. Without reforms the country may explode,” the declaration stated.

The preacher has also tried to organize protest marches in the capital, but these have been blocked by the security forces. “We have been barred from politics,” he told Reuters.

The fact that Algerian Islamists are divided dilutes their ability to stage a comeback, said Mohamed Mouloudi, an editor and specialist on Islam.

“They are no longer speaking with one voice,” Mouloudi told Reuters.

“You have the Salafists, the Muslim brotherhood, and the Djaz’airists,(who give priority to Algerian religious traditions) among others,” he said. “You have those who are for a political action, and those who consider political action as illicit.”

SUCCESSION DEBATE

Even so, a debate is now under way in earnest within the Algerian ruling elite, for the first time since the conflict began 20 years ago, about giving Islamists a role in politics.

The focus for that debate — which, like much of Algerian politics, is conducted behind closed doors — is the question of who will succeed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika when his final term ends in 2014.

One camp within the elite is backing Abdelaziz Belkhadem, a former prime minister and secretary general of the ruling FLN party. He is a secularist but is trusted by the Islamists. Opposing him is a camp of hardline secularists who have backing from the powerful security forces.

Friction spilled out into the open when a group of Belkhadem opponents inside the FLN launched a campaign to have him removed from the party leadership.

“It will be wise to promote a man like Abdelaziz Belkhadem who has good ties with Islamists as well as with decision makers inside the regime,” said Mohamed Lagab, a secularist academic at Algiers university.

“Decision makers should take into account that North Africa will be ruled by Islamists ,” said Lagab. source – Reuters

Related Topics:Algeria arab Islamists spring

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Headline News

YOU ARE INVITED! Come Join Us For ‘Collision 2026’ A Free National 4-Day Apologetics, Prophecy And Current Events Conference At Suncoast Baptist Church

Published

21 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Geoffrey Grider

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The ‘Collision 2026’ is a free national 4-Day Apologetics, Prophecy and Current Events Conference at Suncoast Baptist Church in West Palmetto Florida

Starting on March 5th, The Soul Trap will be hosting Collision 2026 a 4-day Bible Prophecy and Apologetics conference at Suncoast Baptist Church in West Palmetto, Florida. We have been talking about this amazing event for the past few months on our Podcast, and now we are exactly one week away from opening day. If you’ve been looking for an immersive event to supercharge your understanding of the end times in which we live, this is it!

“And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Acts 11:26 (KJB)

Speakers at the Collision Conference include author Randy Keener, author Joseph Dulmage, Dr. Aaron Cowgill, Final Fight Radio host Matt Crane, and of course, me. I will be speaking on biblical Israel and the Middle East, as well as the Deception of Christian Nationalism. Other topics to be covered are Mystery Babylon & New York City, Discernment in the End-Times, Demon Possession & Mental Health, M.U.F.O.N. & Modern Spiritual Warfare and A.I. In the End-Times. It promises to be a rollicking time and jam-packed with all the information you need as a Bible believer living in the last days. Jesus says deception will be the hallmark of the days leading up to the Rapture, and brother, is that ever true.

CLICK TO REGISTER FOR COLLISION 2026 AND TO VIEW MEETING TIMES AND SPEAKER SCHEDULES

This is a free event, but you do need to register and you can do that by clicking here. All other information regarding times, locations and speakers can be found here. Suncoast Baptist Church is located at 1816 10th Street West Palmetto, Florida 34221. The conference begins Thursday, March 5th, with coffee and refreshments, and then promptly at 9:00AM, I will open it up as the first speaker. Please pray for everyone travelling there, for all the speakers, and that the Lord would bless this as both a time of refreshment for the saints, and a time of the opening of the scriptures for the lost. Looking forward to seeing you there!

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When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

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The Pruntytown Correctional Center and Jail In West Virginia And The Murray County Jail Up In North Georgia Are The Latest To Request King James Bibles

Published

2 days ago

February 25, 2026

Geoffrey Grider

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The Pruntytown Correctional Center and Jail In West Virginia is the latest detention center to request King James Bibles for their inmates

So far in 2026, thousands of King James Bibles, scripture portions and books have been flying out the door, with new requests coming in on a daily basis. The Pruntytown Correctional Center and Jail holds just under 400 inmates, and Chaplain Elder has requested a Bible for each inmate. Up in north Georgia at the Murray County Jail, Chaplain Rick has run out of the thousands of Bibles we’ve sent him last year, and is requesting more. What a blessing to see the gospel being preached, souls being saved and the word of God going out!

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” Luke 8:11 (KJB)

From all the testimonies we’ve been getting, right around 1,000 souls have heard the gospel, believed it, and were given a Bible from Bibles Behind Bars. I am sure the actual numbers are much higher than that, but those are the ones we’ve directly heard about. When you donate to this outreach, you are first and foremost keeping the supply lines open for all the pastors, chaplains and volunteers who go to the jails and prisons to preach. Bibles Behind Bars is one of the very last jail and prison supply ministries who send out the King James Bibles and books exclusively. Because of you, we are operating on a nationwide scale servicing hundreds of detention facilities. Come work where God is working, and help us to meet this crucial end times need. We need you!

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

If God has prospered you, please take a moment to click on the donate button to help us in this monumental task of providing King James Bibles, New Testaments, scripture portions, gospel tracts as well as Spanish Bibles to inmates in jails and prisons from Florida to Alaska, and every state in between. We need your prayers, we need your generous financial support, and we need you to stand with us in the closing days of the Church Age. Thank you so very much, TO THE FIGHT!!!

NOTE: If you need a 501 C3 Letter of Donation for tax purposes, please send your donation to:

NTEB Ministries
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Ste. 1272-129
Virginia Beach, VA 23454.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Headline News

PROPHECY NEWS MIDWEEK UPDATE: Bill Gates Finally Admits Epstein Files Are True, F-22s Land In Israel For Iran War, Donald Trump Tells Whoppers At SOTU

Published

2 days ago

February 25, 2026

Geoffrey Grider

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Bill Gates just dropped a bomb concerning the Epstein Files, one that shows you why no one in Washington especially Donald Trump is interested in launching an investigation

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has admitted he had two affairs with Russian women while married to his now-ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, just like the Epstein Files says he did, and on Tuesday issued a groveling apology for his connection to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. This is a stunning revelation, and it begs the question as to why the Department of Justice has not launched a full-scall investigation into the other allegations contained in the files. Who doesn’t want that to come to light? To find the answer to that question, we must go to the Oval Office.

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Proverbs 29:2 (KJB)

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