The story of Zuleikha Al-Shayeb stands as a powerful testament to the brutality of French colonial rule in Algeria and the indomitable spirit of African resistance. Captured by French forces, she was subjected to horrific torture rather than being treated as a Prisoner of War under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
The Atrocity in Algiers
On 15 October 1957, the French paraded Zuleikha through the streets of Algiers. She was chained to a Land Rover and dragged along the roads, her skin peeling off as she suffered severe bodily injuries. Using loudspeakers, the French announced to Algerians that this would be the fate of those who resisted French rule, declaring, 'France will show no mercy, not even to women.' This barbaric act was intended to terrorize the population into submission.
Historical Context of French Colonial Violence
France, which gave the world the ideals of 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' after its 1790 revolution, proved to be one of the most brutal colonial powers. Renowned psychiatrist Frantz Fanon, in his 1961 book The Wretched of the Earth, urged Africans to reject Europe, noting that Europeans 'murder men everywhere they find them.' Despite its superpower status, France suffered humiliating defeats, including the Haitian Revolution in 1803 and the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, where over 16,000 French soldiers perished.
The Algerian War was particularly vicious. France killed approximately two million Algerians, destroyed over 18,000 villages, used chemical weapons, and employed concentration camps reminiscent of Nazi Germany. However, the Algerian resistance, epitomized by fighters like Zuleikha Al-Shayeb, remained steadfast.
Zuleikha's Role and Capture
Zuleikha was an educated woman from a privileged background who chose to join the National Liberation Front (FLN). The French feared Algerian women, recognizing that defeating them was key to crushing the resistance. Fanon wrote in his 1959 essay 'Algeria Unveiled' that the French sought to 'conquer the women' to destroy Algerian society's capacity for resistance. Women, veiled in traditional garments, served as couriers for weapons and grenades, frustrating the colonizers.
After her capture, the French tortured Zuleikha for ten days. Then, they placed her in a helicopter and dropped her into a dense forest, where she fell to her death. Her body was not recovered until 1984, when an Algerian villager who had buried it came forward, leading to positive identification.
Legacy and Acknowledgment
Zuleikha's spirit remained unbroken despite the physical agony. As the saying goes, 'They dragged her body, but could never break her spirit.' Her defiance inspired Algerians and symbolized the resilience of African women. The Zulu proverb 'You strike a woman, you strike a rock' aptly describes her legacy.
France did not formally acknowledge its atrocities in Algeria until 13 September 2018, when President Emmanuel Macron admitted to acts of barbarism. He announced the opening of archives on disappeared civilians and soldiers. Macron specifically mentioned Maurice Audin, a mathematics professor who died under torture in 1957. It was not until 2014 that President François Hollande admitted Audin had been killed in detention.
Macron acknowledged that the French Parliament's 1956 special powers 'laid the ground for some terrible acts, including torture, which became a weapon considered legitimate.' He called the Battle of Algiers 'the most repressive period of the Algerian War,' with the most cases of torture.
Conclusion
Zuleikha Al-Shayeb remains a symbol of resistance against colonial brutality. Her story underscores the need for colonial powers to apologize and pay reparations for the Transatlantic Slave Trade and colonialism. Algeria, despite its suffering, played a decisive role in liberation struggles across Africa, including supporting Nelson Mandela. May the souls of Algerian patriots rest in power.
