Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Submit Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel: American Arabs
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8 American Arabs
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community Activism
  • Former City Hall reporter Ray Hanania, ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas, candidates for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.
    Nearly 100 candidates, officials address Arab Democratic Club forum Sunday American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    Arabs and Muslim blast Mayor lightfoot for racist store closings American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host “forum” to explore Mayor Lightfoot’s racist crackdown on Arab stores Activism
  • Imam Jamal Saad leads the more than 1,000 muslim attendees in payer at SeatGeek Stadium's open grounds at the Eid al-Fitr celebration May 2, 2022 in Bridgeview
    Local Illinois officials join Chicagoland Muslims for Eid Celebration at SeatGeek stadium American Arabs
  • DCEO Panel discussion on business support opportunities for all businesses including Arab American businesses, April 26, 2022
    DCEO Access to Capital: Arab American Heritage Month business workshop American Arabs
  • DCEO Celebrates Arab American Heritage Month (AAHM) American Arabs
  • Alderman Raymond Lopez addresses the gathering at an Iftar hosted by Radi Abuhashish Thursday April 21, 2022 joined by Dr. Willie Wilson and other candidates for Chicago Mayor.
    Political candidates join local Arab leaders for Iftar Activism
  • U.S. Congressional Candidate Rob Cruz in the 6th District GOP Primary election June 28, 2022
    Republican Candidate for U.S. Congress, Rob Cruz, Opens a Dialogue with the Palestinian Community American Arabs
  • Peak Rock Capital affiliate completes acquisition of Ziyad Brothers, a leading provider of brander Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot American Arabs
  • April 24, 2022 Illinois DCEO American ArabChamber event
    American Arab Chamber and DCEO host online panel to help Arab Businesses secure funding Activism
  • Oussama Jammal presents Congresswoman Marie Newman with the Courage Award during the USCMO Annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner. Photo courtesy of Marie Newman Facebook Page
    Newman endorsed by major Arab and Muslim leaders Activism
Algeria courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

Algeria: Something Is Not Right Happened in Raïs

Posted on September 19, 2017September 19, 2017 By Abdennour Toumi No Comments on Algeria: Something Is Not Right Happened in Raïs
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Algeria: Something Is Not Right Happened in Raïs

In Algeria politics is not local, but vocal, therefore the nights of horror of August and September, 1997, still haunt the dreams of the population.

By Abdennour Toumi

About 18 miles south of Algiers located in the countryside of the Municipality of Sidi-Moussa, a massacre took place in a small village where a hundred civilians were slaughtered, mainly women and children and known as the Raïs Massacre. 

It is located halfway between Sidi-Moussa, Baraki and Larba’a. These three localities used to be called the Triangle of Death, Once one heads further west, add Bougara ex-Rovigot. All these villages are located in Wilaya (Province) in the Metidja plain.

A region known for its fertile lands and beautiful orchards, it used to be the home mainly of French settlers.

The small village of Raïs (in colloquial Algerian Rayees) ironically stands for “president” in Arabic. In the ’70’s the village was composed of only four main families (I am not permitted to name them out of courtesy), hence the families are affiliated and related to each other by marriage. They are in the majority landowners, while the remainder of the land belongs to the government. 

Algeria courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

The land was managed by the government’s agricultural farm (Domaine Si-Djaffar, former Narbonne); splendid apple, pear, orange and lemon orchards surrounded the village, and pine trees bordered the main route leading to the city of Sidi-Moussa.

An important segment of the younger population spent their summer-time working in those orchards in the harvest season…

In 1990, Algeria held its first free local election in the wake of the “Algerian Spring.” The FIS won a landslide victory and Sidi-Moussa was no exception.  The majority of Raïs voters voted en masse for the Islamist party, including the city Vice-Mayor, one of the inhabitants who vanished in the massacre.  The elderly voted for the FLN party, worth noting because Raïs and other small villages in Sidi-Moussa and Larba’a were the backbone of the Wilaya IV during the Algerian Liberation War (1954-1962).

On the nights of August 28-29, 1997, as the country sank deep in indescribable civil war, the Armed Islamic Group (French acronym GIA) launched an attack on the villagers. According to a credible eye witness, it was a hot and humid night, in one area of the village a family was holding a family wedding, so people were for the most part awake, despite the shadow of the war, people were trying to keep the night festive and joyful.

The terrorists arrived in pick-ups armed to the teeth with machetes, knives and riffles, wearing Afghan dress, their faces covered with a Saharan scarf, approximately a hundred — Rachid told me” … these cowards had women with them, strangely I heard them swearing and if my memory doesn’t fail me they even had foreigners because of their physiognomy, usually Algerians are not so tall, these bastards were…”

He continued, “they entered from the east gate of the village, coming from either Larba’a or Baraki, I don’t know, at first they walked into the first house (he named the family) the family members faced them with metal bars and batons, (he named the first victim) was killed (described in a horrible way). Then the entire village turned into a night of horror.

Algeria courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

“The horror went on for more than four hours; the terrorists didn’t show any pity to kill and destroy those innocent souls, mainly children and women,” it was a massacre.” Miloud added.

Later the official Army stormed the village, but the terrorists had already left, and then came the never-answered question: Why did it take the Army five hours to intervene? Knowing the region was the hottest spot in the country there was a military barrack a few miles west of the village, and checkpoints and protection posts every five hundred meters? 

The death toll given by the authorities was 38, but according to family victims and people who knew the village well the count passed 300.

Two decades have passed since this tragic event and one like it that took place three weeks later in Bentalha, another village that witnessed a night of horror, located in the Municipality of Baraki.

I myself visited the two localities during my sojourn in Algiers. People still suffer shock in the aftermath, especially the elderly. I met one survivor by chance at the city’s Mosque. Although he was the wealthiest man in the village, I was told he lost half of his family; today he lives with his grandson and doesn’t speak with anyone.

As for the youngest who were either in their early childhood or teenagers, they prefer not to speak about this event, for it is a tragic story and a history they will never forget, according to Hamid, a university student studying Law.

The inhabitants of the village and the city of Sidi-Moussa prefer to move on. 

Today the city is flourishing, elected the cleanest city of Algiers Department due to the work of the Mayor and his city counsel who are trying to give the city a second wind after the suffering of the dark years of terrorism. The city holds the famous National Soccer Complex, where the national squad rest and practice.

The city and its villages are safe, one feels the change, people relaxing  comfortably, coffee shops and restaurants are open late, business is booming; Social projects are carried out by the Municipality even in the villages, notably Raïs.

It is important not to forget Ouled Allel, another small village whose inhabitants suffered a great deal from the terrorists and their atrocities. In fact this village was once the HQ of the GIA’s “Emir” and his lieutenants; to the point Former President General Zeroual ordered the village to be erased! I spoke with a military aviator, whose helicopter was shot down by the terrorists in one of the village’s orange orchards.

Why did the terrorists settle in those villages? From the military tactics point, they were vital because they were located close to the city of Algiers and close also to the mountains where they could hide; the plain of Metidja is located at the feet of the Atlas Blidian mountain chain.

Subsequently, the area was also used as a base for the first Armed Islamist Movement in the mid ’80’s under the leadership of Mustapha Bouaali and his lieutenant Abdelkader Chabouti. Mr. Bouaali was killed by the regime forces in 1987 in a region near Larba’a.

But when one walks in the streets of Sidi-Moussa and speaks with the elderly, one senses in their comments the vivid terror and collective despair they went through, even though they prefer not to speak about it at all. 

Every one has a story to tell whether the one who lived through that night of horror in Raïs, or a young man who was on the roof protecting his house and neighbors; even women when they speak about it are very emotional, and men prefer not to recall those years when it was so difficult to live and survive.

Yet the people still wonder, asking why this happened to us and why in Raïs? This raised the tiring question, who was killing whom and why?

In a recent article about this tragic event, retired General Abderrazak Maïza, who was the Commander of the First Military Region in Blida, told le Soir d’Algérie that it was “a sort of God-father business, a money-lending problem between the terrorists’ family members.”

In sum, the people of that region today don’t want to hear anything about change or revolt. Some of them left the city, leaving every good souvenir of their childhood behind. 

The city and the villages are still in the majority conservative, and the Islamists are present mainly in the local mosques; meanwhile the authorities are keeping a vigilant eye on their actions and activity. They are less powerful in terms of social mores, since they converted to business, including former GIA and AIS (FIS military branch) members who control the local food and supplies market in Larba’a and Baraki. 

They are not strong politically and are totally absent from the local politics — in Algeria politics is not local, but vocal, therefore the nights of horror of August and September, 1997, still haunt the dreams of the population — surely “something is not right” happened in those villages and others in the country.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi:
- France correspondent for The Arab Daily News.
- www.bareed-areej.com Editor-in-Chief
رئيس تحرير مجلة بريد الأريج
- Political consultant at IMPR a Think-Tank based in Ankara, Turkey.
- Member at the European Observatory for Arabic Language Teaching based in Paris, France.
- Affiliated with Sociology of Islam Journal and contributor at Middle East Studies / International Studies, Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Center, Portland State University in Portland, OR.

EDUCATION: Diplôme des Études Approfondies (DEA) in Political Science from Toulouse University I, France. Master’s degree in Law from Algiers University, Algeria.

Email im at: nourhty@gmail.com
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Latest posts by Abdennour Toumi (see all)
  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is the Neither-Peace-nor-Security As-sumption Dominating Again? - June 7, 2021
  • Algeria: “I Can See Clearly Now” - August 5, 2019
  • Majesty Mohammed VI and General Gaïd Salah Tear Down This Wall! - July 29, 2019

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Abdennour Toumi, Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Middle East, North Africa, Opinion Tags:Algeria, Arab World, massacre, Rais

Post navigation

Previous Post: Kennedy promises to uphold Arab, Muslim rights
Next Post: Palos Township official apologizes to Arabs, Muslims

Related Posts

  • Mordechai Vanunu Reports Supreme Court Ruling at Twitter American Arabs
  • The Ambassador of Morocco (2nd from left) greets Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley (2nd from right) at his City Hall office to receive a commemoration honoring the special relationship between America and Morocco. Picture center is Baker Lemseffer who was the director of the CHicago office of the Morocco Cultural Center. On the right is Col. Jack Reilly and on the left is a Moroccan aid who accompanied the Ambassador. The story was the main story in a 1976 issue of The Middle Eastern Voice Newspaper published by Ray Hanania in Chicagoland. Photo (C) Copyright 1976-2017 Ray Hanania. All Rights Reserved
    Arabs prepare to celebrate Heritage in Illinois American Arabs
  • American Arab Quarterback Manziel struggles in first play American Arabs
  • Ustar Erdoğan, Stronger Than Ever Abdennour Toumi
  • How to market to American Arabs and Muslims American Arabs
  • O Little Town of Who Cares? Arab World

More Related Articles

Trump’s Wall and Israel’s Wall in Palestine American Arabs
CUFI: Ethical Faith Leaders Disrupt V.P. Mike Pence at D.C. CUFI Summit Arab World
Israeli journalist Tal Schneider Palestinians have little to expect from Israeli elections Israel
Mordechai Vanunu at St. Stephens Church, copyright Meir Vanunu 2007 President Carter’s Cover-up: Vanunu Mordechai’s Status Quo Arab World
Palestinians walk next to the collapsed minaret of mosque in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 30 July 2014. The mosque was destroyed in an overnight Israeli airstrike. EPA/OLIVER WEIKEN and Amnesty International Israel forges ahead to silence Muslim prayers Arab World
Sister Cities links Palestinians, Israelis & Jordanians over water American Arabs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Palestinian refugees forced to flee their homes at gunpoint by Jewish terrorist groups operating in Palestine in the 1930s, 1940s and after Israel was created on May 14, 1948. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Unresolved status of Palestinian rights makes UNRWA essential
    May 7, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • Chicago's racist Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered more than 150 Arab owned stores closed in 2021 in a racist effort o fight street gang crimes
    Arab Daily News launches Arab American Network to fight racism
    March 12, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Former City Hall reporter Ray Hanania, ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas, candidates for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.
    Nearly 100 candidates, officials address Arab Democratic Club forum Sunday
    May 15, 2022
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot
    April 15, 2022

The Tabboun Column

The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
  • Tabboun
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Political Grapevine/The Tabboun, Friday Dec. 16, 2021
    December 16, 2021
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Chicago remains strongest Palestine voice
    September 7, 2016
  • The Tabboun: Israeli human rights violations hit
    June 30, 2016
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Himes questions troop deployment to Syria
    November 3, 2015
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Tabboun: Dearborn removes statue of racist former mayor
    September 29, 2015

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • HANANIA Arab News Op-Eds
  • Ukraine conflict gives Palestinians chance to redefine their conflict
    March 9, 2022
  • Mishmeshan PHC medical center destroyed in Syrian Government assaults. Photo courtesy of UOSSM Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations
    President Biden’s dyslexic policy in Syria is a mess
    October 20, 2021
  • Annissa Essaibi George and family
    Annissa Essaibi George faces “race hypocrisy” in campaign to be Boston Mayor
    October 20, 2021
  • Jerusalem image of Jews and Arabs walking together. Shutterstock. Courtesy of Arab News Newspaper
    Jewish Michigan lawmaker leads push for Two State Solution
    October 7, 2021
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • Girl Fighters, new book on Yemen Book Cune Press
    New Book: Girl Fighters: Break Tradition in Yemen 
    October 25, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • 03-30-22 Arab Chamber Heritage Month Flyer
    Arab Chamber to host Arab Heritage Month dinner March 30
    March 14, 2022
  • “Rupture”, the psychological thriller produced by MBC STUDIOS, has won Best Saudi Film at the 2021 Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF).
    MBC GROUP’s Rupture wins Best Saudi Film at the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival
    December 15, 2021
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2022 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme