Monday, 11 January 2016

Pieds Noirs or Harkis

We often meet French people who remind us of their status as "pieds noirs" - generally white French with parents born in Algeria - who returned to France in around 1962 at the time of Algerian independence. But we hear less of those called "harkis", those of Arab origin who came here at the same time to escape retribution in their homeland for supporting the French. Placed into camps on arrival it took many years to achieve recognition as full French citizens, only in 2008 were their children allowed to access certain public functions. A group of "harkis" in the Ariege is calling on President Hollande to keep the promises he and other presidents have made to recognise their rights.
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