Shahid (Algeria)

A shahid (Arabic: شَهيد, romanized: Shahīd) is, in Algeria, the official title of any person (Algerian or foreign) who fought during the Algerian War in the ranks of the independence movement (mujahideen) and who fell on the field of honor or who died as a result of his commitment (shuhada). The shahids are designated in Algeria as "the symbol and pride of the Nation".^[1]

Shahid
شَهيد

The medal reads verse 169 of the 3rd Surah of the Quran: Think not of those who are killed in the way of God as dead. Rather, they are alive, with their Lord, well provided for.

Definition

The word shahid is an official status that designates in Algeria any person who is a member of the National Liberation Front or the National Liberation Army, who fell on the field of honor during the Algerian War,^[2] or who died during this period as a result of injuries or illnesses, or who disappeared or died in prison or in places of detention or after their release as a result of torture suffered. People who died during events between July 5, 1954 and September 1, 1962 are considered "victims of duty", and are also considered shuhada.^[1]

The term was also applied to victims of terrorism during the Algerian Civil War.^[3]

In arts and media

Cinema

• "Chronique des années de braise (وقائع سنين الجمر, Waqa'i' sinine ed-djamr)", by Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina.^[4]
• "La Bataille d'Alger (معركة الجزائر)" by Gillo Pontecorvo is an Algerian-Italian film released in 1966.^[5]

Théâtre

• "The Martyrs Return This Week (الشهداء يعودون هذا الأسبوع)", by Tahar Ouettar, adapted by M'hamed Benguettaf, directed by Ziani-Chérif Ayad^[6]

Littérature

• "Tahar Djaout, *Les Chercheurs d'os* (novel)", Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 1984, (ISBN 978-2-02-006710-2). Reissued in the 'Points' Collection, no. 824, Éditions du Seuil, 2001 (ISBN 978-2-02-048491-6). Translated into German, 1988. Translated into Catalan, 2003.^[7][8]
• "Tahar Ouettar, *Les Martyrs reviennent cette semaine* (الشهداء يعودون هذا الأسبوع)", Baghdad, 1974 - Algiers, 1980 - (in Arabic)^[6]
• Mohamed Cherif Ould El Hocine, "*Éléments pour la mémoire. Afin que nul n'oublie. Hommage à nos glorieux Chouhada. De l'Organisation Spéciale (OS) 1947 à l'indépendance de l'Algérie le 5 juillet 1962*", Casbah, Algiers, 2009, (ISBN 978-9961-64-865-0).^[9]

Articles de journaux

• Mohammed Gadir, Portrait of the Chahid “Commander Ferradj”: Louedj Mohamed, known as “Commander Ferradj”, born on 1934 at Ain Ghoraba (Tlemcen).^[10]

Monuments of the martyrs

Maqam Echahid, a monument to the martyrs built at end of the war of independence in Algiers.

Monument to the Martyrs of the city of Djelfa.

See also

• Algerian War
• Martyr
• Shahid