Summary
THE LOVELY Mediterranean coastal land of Algeria was modernized during the century when it was a French colony and under the military regime that followed independence in 1962. Life was sophisticated, with bikinis on beaches, cocktails in nightclubs, up- to-date movies and music, etc. But resentment by conservative Muslims lurked under the surface. In mosques, fundamentalist mullahs preached Puritanism. (Colonial rulers had offered full French citizenship to any Algerians who renounced Islam, but few did.)
When the first democratic elections were held at local levels in 1990, the rigid Islamic Salvation Front overwhelmingly won control of many cities. The victory raised visions of a looming harsh theocracy with public floggings and women consigned to shrouds. Islamists also won national balloting in 1991 - but generals voided the election and imposed military rule again.See the full content of this document
Extract
Horror: ; Cruelty in Algeria
That crackdown triggered a horror. Armed Muslim rebels prowled and raided, clashing wit...
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