“Le Point” Stirs Tensions: A Reckless Campaign of Lies and Provocation Against Algeria

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | January 19th, 2025 —  In a blatant display of media manipulation and political opportunism, the far-right weekly Le Point has published a damaging dossier on Algeria, filled with unfounded allegations, fabricated claims, and a dangerous distortion of the truth. This recent attack comes in the wake of increasing hostility from certain elements within the French government, notably the far-right Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, whose inflammatory rhetoric has fueled this wave of misinformation. The magazine’s sensationalist content includes a hostile portrayal of Algeria’s supposed efforts to undermine France’s stability, particularly in relation to the country’s internal matters, which have no bearing on Algeria’s official policy.

The Le Point dossier, stretching over seven pages and occupying the front page of the latest issue, features an array of falsehoods, targeting prominent Algerian figures in France and demonizing Algeria’s diplomatic stance. At the forefront of these baseless attacks is a claim that Algeria seeks to destabilize France, an assertion with no credible evidence or basis in reality. The magazine goes as far as to present photos of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and prominent Algerian social media influencers living in France, accusing them of allegedly orchestrating unrest. These claims echo the remarks of Minister Darmanin, who, after Algeria’s refusal to host the controversial influencer Boualem, accused Algeria of seeking to “humiliate France.”

Within the dossier, the publication includes spurious accusations of Algeria’s role in targeting Algerian dissidents residing in France. However, the so-called “evidence” provided by Le Point consists of little more than a collection of reckless video clips and baseless statements from individuals with no official standing, whose actions do not represent the views of the Algerian government or the broader Algerian community. These individuals, often radicalized figures, reflect a fringe minority that has no connection to the country’s official diplomatic posture.

The far-right weekly also takes aim at the Grand Mosque of Paris, an institution that operates within the bounds of French law and upholds its responsibilities as a religious and cultural entity. Le Point objects to the Mosque’s hosting of certain French political figures, including Palestinian-origin activist and French National Assembly member Rima Hassan, accusing it of stepping outside its remit. This attack further exemplifies the magazine’s disingenuous approach, driven by far-right prejudices rather than a genuine concern for the role of religious institutions.

In a particularly ethically questionable move, the magazine attempts to cast figures involved in terrorism, such as Ferhat Mehenni, leader of the separatist MAK movement, as victims of oppression. This reckless revisionism seeks to present these figures as martyrs while ignoring their involvement in violent, anti-state activities. The juxtaposition of such figures with innocent Algerians who are committed to their country’s stability and peace is a testament to Le Point‘s agenda to polarize and vilify Algeria in the eyes of its readers.

This campaign of lies and distortion is not an isolated incident. Le Point, much like its political allies in the National Rally party, led by Marine Le Pen’s family, has long been one of the most outspoken anti-Algerian voices in the French media landscape. Its rhetoric mirrors the views of far-right figures like Le Pen and Éric Zemmour, whose extremist ideologies and legacy of colonial collaboration continue to shape their positions on Algeria. Zemmour, a notorious figure with deeply controversial views on Islam and North Africa, adds another layer of complexity to France’s relationship with Algeria, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and fueling division.

Despite their prominence in the media, the far-right’s political clout remains limited. Although the National Rally and Zemmour’s Reconquest party have gained ground in recent years, particularly among the French electorate disillusioned with mainstream parties, their influence is still overshadowed by the rising strength of left-wing political movements, as evidenced by the success of the New Popular Union in the latest legislative elections.

Nonetheless, the influence of figures like Darmanin within the government has allowed the far-right’s agenda to creep into mainstream politics, undermining diplomatic relations and fueling tensions. Darmanin’s attacks on Algeria, along with the ideological alignment of Le Point, contribute to a toxic atmosphere of mistrust and animosity. His position as Minister of the Interior places him in a position to further aggravate the situation, reinforcing the narrative of a manufactured conflict that serves only to undermine both countries’ interests.

Translated from:

https://www.echoroukonline.com/%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%aa%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%81-%d9%8a%d8%ac%d9%86%d9%91%d8%af-%d8%a3%d8%b0%d8%b1%d8%b9%d9%87-%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%81-%d8%a7

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