IThey nickname themselves ZazouYoucef, ImadTintin, or Doualemn. Algerians living in France, they have called in recent days to rape and kill those who dare to demonstrate against the power in place in Algiers, to “pull out their nails” with pliers, and to bury them “with the Jews”. Broadcast mainly on TikTok and most often in Algerian Arabic, the messages raised many more approvals than criticisms online in the Algerian community in France.
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Chawki Benzehra is one of the rare voices who have denounced these calls for violence. An independent translator, he arrived in France in 2012 for his studies. A strong supporter of the Algerian civil rights movement Hirak (2019-2021), he became unwanted in his country. France granted him the right to asylum as a political refugee in December 2023.
Compared to the vast majority of journalists and commentators, Chawki Benzehra has a considerable advantage. He perfectly understands what is said in Arabic, including slang, on social networks. It describes a critical situation.
The Point: the influencer ZazouYoucef, whom you denounced, was arrested in Brest (Finistère) and will be tried in February. Imad Tintin, who had flown to his aid, is in court this Monday, January 6, for “provocation of an act of terrorism.” Who are they?
Chawki Benzehra : ZazouYoucef, from Brest, has a scum profile, nothing more. This is immediately heard in the way you speak when you are Algerian. It is not credible. Moreover, it is little followed and even less respected in Algeria. On the French side, on the other hand, the support he enjoys is terrifying. I don't think he is being manipulated directly by the Algerian authorities. The profile of ImadTintin, who lives in Échirolles (Isère), is more worrying. He is a former soldier of the Algerian forces, like his brother, also virulent on social networks.
Could the two still be in contact with Algerian services?
It's possible.
You say that ZazouYoucef is not directly manipulated, but you nevertheless mention a campaign of calls for hatred orchestrated by Algiers.
Yes, there is no doubt about that. You just need to read the dispatches in French from the Algeria Press Service (APS) agency to understand it. She now speaks of “Macronito-Zionist France”! The recognition by Paris of Moroccan claims to Western Sahara was the trigger. Algiers wants to cause unrest in France. We are at a level of hostility never seen before.
And the problem is that the Algerian power has a lot of relays in this country. They are known. The Grand Mosque of Paris, near Algiers, regularly receives influencers. Mehdi Ghezzar, this columnist whom RMC dismissed this summer following insulting remarks about Morocco, presents himself as a relay of power, working to create “an Algerian lobby abroad”! I am also certain that Sofia Benlemmane was recruited by the Algerian services.
Who is it ?
Officially, just a big fan of the national football team. She was expelled from Ivory Coast during the African Cup of Nations for insulting comments about the host country. Recently, she attacked me very virulently on social networks.
And is it followed in France?
To a point you can't imagine. We think we know Algeria in France, but we only know an image of it. Behind the language barrier, there is another world, where speeches of hatred and violence, conspiratorial and anti-Semitic, are spread in a very worrying way. This is true in the Algerian Arab community, much less among the Kabyles. Even illegal immigrants are expressing themselves today without fear on TikTok to spread them! Because I denounce them, I am called a Zionist and a harki, I am threatened with death. My photo is circulating, with calls to kill me.
Are you under protection?
Not at the moment, but the risk is palpable.
To Discover
Kangaroo of the day
Answer
If you had any recommendations for the authorities, what would they be?
Intelligence services could usefully carry out global work on these influencers. In the immediate future, we need to call out more, as was done for ZazouYoucef, ImadTintin or Doulaemn, in Montpellier (Hérault).
