Bentalha massacre
LocationBentalha, Algeria
Date22–23 September 1997
Deaths200 to 400 villagers
PerpetratorsArmed Islamic Group of Algeria
A woman cries outside the Hospital, where the dead and wounded had been taken after a massacre.

In the village of Bentalha (Arabic: بن طلحة), located 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Algiers, an incident occurred on the night of 22–23 September 1997, where a significant number of villagers lost their lives due to the actions of armed guerrillas. According to Amnesty International, over 200 villagers were killed. Different sources have reported varying numbers of deaths, with estimates ranging from 85 (the initial official estimate) to 400 (The Economist) to 417 (independent sources).[1]

Background

In 1997, Algeria experienced a violent civil conflict triggered by the cancellation of the 1992 elections, which were expected to be won by the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS). Bentalha, a town located a few kilometers south of Baraki (refer to the map), a satellite town of Algiers, had voted in favor of FIS in the elections. Initially, some of the town's residents supported the Islamist guerrilla groups that emerged after the cancellation of the elections and joined their ranks. The guerrillas in the area initially consisted of the revived Armed Islamic Movement (MIA) and various independent groups. Later, these groups were assimilated into the larger Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in 1994. The army maintained a significant presence in the area, with a post at the eastern entrance of the town, several roadblocks, and barracks on the north side of Baraki. The GIA also had a strong local presence and openly roamed the streets of Bentalha between 1994 and 1996, targeting individuals associated with the government. In June 1996, the government established a "Patriot" communal guard comprising approximately ten individuals in Bentalha.

On 29 August 1997, a massacre known as the Rais massacre took place a few kilometers southeast of Bentalha, resulting in the deaths of approximately 200 people. Widespread rumors circulated that more massacres were imminent. In the ten days leading up to the event, residents reported hearing the howling of jackals (which are not native to the area) every night, and helicopters could be seen flying overhead on a daily basis.

Massacre

On the night of 22 September at 11:30 p.m., explosions occurred in the Hai el-Djilali neighborhood in the southwest of Bentalha. Attackers infiltrated the area from the orange groves to the southeast of the neighborhood. They systematically went from house to house, indiscriminately killing all residents, regardless of age or gender. The air was filled with screams and alarms while a helicopter circled above. The attackers were armed with machine guns, hunting rifles, and machetes. Some were dressed in dark combat attire, while others wore the distinctive kachabia associated with Islamists, along with balaclavas and beards. Eyewitness accounts report that they recognized some of the local residents and called them by name. The attackers engaged in brutal acts, including smashing babies against walls,severing limbs, slitting throats, raping, and murdering women.

According to Amnesty International, survivors reported that during the massacre, armed forces units with armored vehicles were stationed outside the village, preventing some individuals from escaping. This information is supported by Yacine, a survivor interviewed by the BBC, who stated that army vehicles appeared near the scene at midnight but did not intervene.[2] Nesroullah Yous further confirms this account and mentions that the army even stopped locals from neighboring areas from coming to their aid. The assailants continued their rampage through Hai el-Djilali, moving from one house to another until approximately 5 a.m., when they departed without facing any opposition.

A photograph known as "The Bentalha Madonna," captured by Hocine Zaourar, gained widespread circulation and won the World Press Photo award in 1997.[3] The image depicts a grieving Algerian woman waiting outside Zmirli Hospital and has become an iconic representation of the Bentalha massacre, similar to The Falling Soldier photograph from the Spanish Civil War.[4]

Responsibility

Responsibility for the Bentalha massacre, as well as the Rais massacre, was claimed by the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in a press release from London on 26 September, according to Agence France-Presse. Fouad Boulemia, a prominent GIA member, was sentenced to death on 1 August 2004 for his involvement in the massacre, in addition to his previous conviction for the murder of FIS leader Abdelkader Hachani. The local GIA leader, Laazraoui, was killed in October 1997, along with another GIA member, Rachid "Djeha" Ould Hamrane. Nacira, the sister of Rachid Ould Hamrane, admitted to participating in the looting of the victims' belongings and pointing out the homes of sympathizers who should be spared. She also claimed that she was coerced into cooperating under the threat of harm to her life.[5] However, some have raised questions regarding the possibility of government involvement due to the army's apparent lack of intervention during the massacre.

One survivor, Nesroullah Yous, later emigrated to France and published a book titled "Qui a tué à Bentalha?" (Who Killed in Bentalha?) where he shared his personal experience and argued that the Algerian government had infiltrated and taken control of the GIA. Yous highlighted statements made by the attackers, suggesting that they were aware the soldiers stationed outside would not intervene and expressed little regard for religious principles. Yous did not present direct evidence of the perpetrators' identity but believed that the circumstantial evidence strongly indicated government involvement.[6]

Critics of this viewpoint argue that the identity of the killers, who are known to be Islamist guerrillas, makes the question of "who kills?" irrelevant. They name Laazraoui and Ould Hamrane as the leaders of the Bentalha massacre, with Nacira Ould Hamrane, Rachid's sister, implicated in the crime.[7] Algerian TV denounced Yous and Habib Souaidia, another individual challenging the official narrative, for attempting to exonerate the armed groups and discredit the state institutions.[8]

This topic has sparked controversy among Western academics as well. Hugh Roberts acknowledges that "Qui a tué à Bentalha?" provides a detailed account that challenges the official version of events but notes that Yous does not definitively establish the involvement of a special commando or death-squad.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ghanem, Dalia. "Killing the Survivors". Carnegie Middle East Center. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  2. ↑ "Under The Gun". Archived from the original on 23 November 2004.
  3. ↑ Doy, Gen (2002). Drapery: Classicism and Barbarism in Visual Culture. ISBN 9781860645389.
  4. ↑ "Prize winners: 'Independent' photographers shine at World Press Photo". The Independent. 14 February 1998.
  5. ↑ "Turkish Daily News Electronic Edition, Foreign Affairs Section, October 9 1997". Reuters. 16 November 2003. Archived from the original on 16 November 2003. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  6. 1 2 Hugh Roberts 4 Archived 15 May 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Zazi Sadou (April 1998). "While the state negotiates peace with 'Islamic' extremists, ordinary Algerians refuse to concede ground to butchers". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  8. ↑ Welcome matoub.net - BlueHost.com Archived 9 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine

36°38′54″N 3°04′44″E / 36.6483°N 3.0788°E / 36.6483; 3.0788

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