In France, law enforcement officials have taken into custody three Algerian individuals considered social media influencers, who are alleged to have shared content that incites violence. This arrest occurs against the backdrop of declining relations between France and Algeria, a nation with which it shares a complicated history.
Bruno Retailleau, the French Interior Minister, confirmed the latest arrest, which took place late Sunday, marking the third apprehension within as many days. A media report indicated that one of these influencers, who boasts 138,000 followers on TikTok, shared a video that authorities viewed as anti-Semitic. The arrests occurred in various locations, including Montpellier in the south, Grenoble in the Alps, and Brest on the western coast. These events highlight a surge of tension in the historically intricate relationship between French authorities and Algeria, which has been independent since 1962 following a harrowing war for liberation.
The situation has been aggravated by a policy shift in July of last year concerning the contentious Western Sahara region, which angered Algeria and resulted in the country recalling its ambassador from France. Conversely, the French government has condemned Algeria for detaining Boualem Sansal, a French-Algerian writer known for his strong criticisms of the Algerian regime since the previous November. Despite the escalating tensions between the two nations, the French administration has not directly connected these incidents to the arrests of the influencers.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed hopes for favorable relations with Algeria, while also voicing uncertainty regarding the Algerian government’s dedication to agreements reached in 2022. The first of the arrested influencers, a 25-year-old man who previously had around 400,000 followers on TikTok, was apprehended in Brest on Friday morning. He faces substantial charges of expressing online support for terrorism, which could land him a prison sentence of up to seven years. According to the prosecutor from Brest, during police interrogations, he admitted to creating Arabic-language videos calling for acts of violence against specific figures opposing the Algerian government.
The second arrest, made in Grenoble, was also announced by the Interior Minister, who characterized the individual as an influencer. The man is also set to face charges for his inappropriate comments on TikTok and appeared at a court hearing where he requested additional time for his legal defense preparations. He is accused of online incitement to commit acts of terror, which carries a similar maximum penalty of seven years in jail, and he will remain in custody until his trial on March 5. There was a lack of immediate response from the prosecutor’s office in Montpellier regarding the recent arrest in that area.
