From the memories of Algeria: With Mujahid Abdel Hamid Mehri

In the middle of 2004, I came to Algeria from the United States after the suffering of the Muslim community intensified due to the tragic events of September 11.

This visit to Algeria was not the first time for me, as there was another visit that preceded it on the sidelines of a special official mission that I had in Libya, and I found it - at that time - an opportunity to see my brother Khaled (Izz al-Din), whom I had not met since he was a child, where he was arrested He was arrested by the Israeli occupation army in 1986, but he managed to escape from prison in 1987 with a number of his brothers in the Islamic Jihad Movement.

During that short visit to Algeria, I also met Sheikh Mahfouz Nahnah. The head of the Society for Peace Movement, who took me with him to lunch at the table of Minister Dr. Abdelkader Samari, where we got to know each other, and we talked about the conditions of Algeria and Palestine.

When the pressures intensified on our Muslim community in America, I considered leaving until the atmosphere of hostility towards Muslims subsided. Therefore, Algeria was one of the options for asylum if we had no means, and it was not possible for us to reside in any other place.

actually; Algeria welcomed us, and I did not find it difficult to reside there, and my brother Khaled, who was working in a privileged position there, helped me in this matter.

For me, Algeria was the country that we went out as children cheering for its independence in many demonstrations during the early sixties, and the names of many revolutionaries were known to us, such as: Ahmed Ben Bella, Jamila Bouhired, Sheikh Ibrahimi...etc. To our hearts.. When I arrived in the Algerian capital in June 2004, I stayed in the “Bir Mourad Rais” neighborhood, where I quickly became acquainted with a number of Islamic personalities there, who opened the way for me to present a series of lessons and lectures on Palestine in many Algerian cities and states. Especially about the uprising and its heroic leaders like Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

Several months after my arrival in the Algerian capital, she opened an office for me in the “Al-Madania” neighborhood. It is one of the neighborhoods that was a stronghold of the Algerian revolution, and I started my activities that ranged from lectures, meetings and political writings in some Algerian newspapers, such as Al-Bilad newspaper.

During my stay in Algiers, which lasted for nearly two years, I had the opportunity to get to know and meet many well-known preacher, political and literary figures, and I was keen to communicate with a number of the leaders of the active movements in the Islamic scene there, and I published several books and articles about them, such as: Sheikh Mahfouz Nahnah, Sheikh Abu Jarah Sultani, Sheikh Abdullah Jaballah, and Sheikh Muhammad Bouslimani.

Mr. Abdul Hamid Mehri was; The Secretary-General of the Liberation Front and the former minister, one of those national figures whom I liked to meet and dialogue with, Sheikh Saeed Morsi; One of the leaders of the Islamic Action in Algeria, by arranging a session for us with him, as he was living in the "Haidara" area.

I sat next to him, exchanging parties to talk about Algeria and Palestine, and he had a lot to say in the context of advice and the conclusions of his struggle experience.. On my part, I expressed to him the extent to which we as Palestinians were affected by the struggles of the Algerian people and the steadfastness of its people and their high sacrifices, and that this jihadist march of the Algerian people is for us On the land of Palestine there is a "revolutionary icon" that we are proud of, and it is the supreme example of people's sacrifices in resisting the usurping colonial powers, and the lesson that all peoples living in a state of occupation have learned from, which is: The life of occupation, no matter how long it is, will end, if there is a will for liberation and independence. .. The Israeli occupation of Palestine is a situation similar to what was the French colonialism in Algeria, which lasted for more than one hundred and thirty years, and just as the struggling Algerian people succeeded, through their glorious revolution, in getting rid of that colonial situation, we in Palestine have resolved to proceed In the footsteps of Algeria until victory and independence.

Si Mahri was listening to me and then commenting and presenting his encyclopedic vision and conclusions about the Algerian revolution in its armed struggle and negotiating experience.

actually; Algeria was one of the most important stations of struggle from which the Palestinian revolution learned, and was able to establish distinguished relations with its leadership. any other Arab country.
As a Palestinian intellectual, I was familiar with Algeria's experience in combating French colonialism, and admired the struggles of its people. What I had previously read during my time there about the history of Algeria served me in the discussion, as I did not leave a book about this country without making it one of my library's holdings, and he was the best sitter for me all along. period of my stay there.

I sat in the house of Si Mahri, this political and patriotic giant, whose features showed traces of grace, prestige and history; Because he was a former minister and one of the men of the glorious revolution, and the meeting and dialogue between us lasted about two hours, and he had some blame on the Palestinian leadership, which went to Oslo and did not try to communicate with the Algerian leadership and benefit from its negotiating experience with France, and therefore it made many serious mistakes, As it was lured into the trap and the meager agreement was signed in Washington in 1993.

Si Mahri is considered one of the most important political and national figures who played a major role before, during and after the Algerian revolution, and in the post-independence period. Man of National Reconciliation", due to the effective role he played in revitalizing national reconciliation initiatives in the face of the insistence of the existing authority - at the time - to adopt the option of a "security solution". The Society of Sant'Egidio, which led to the signing of the "Contract of Rome" or the National Contract.

Si Mahri remained a fighter, thinker, and leader who was respected and appreciated by his comrades and opponents alike, as everyone called him several qualities that can be summarized in two: objectivity in analysis, and courage in stance, and he was elected in 2000 as president of the Arab National Conference.

After the outbreak of the Arab Spring revolutions, Si Mahri wrote a letter to President Bouteflika in February 2011 about the country's political situation and the need to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of independence in light of deep political reforms leading to the establishment of a second republic. His ideas and initiatives have always been respected and accepted by the Algerian people and authorities.

His stances (may God have mercy on him) were characterized by courage, daring, and steadfastness on principles. He was a supporter of democratic transformation in his country without compromise, and he was a firm supporter of the full Palestinian right without concession. About his life, and its liberation was a hope he had throughout his life, even at the time of the Algerian liberation revolution, and we have always listened to him as he put his extensive revolutionary experiences, including negotiating skills, to the drawing of Palestinian leaders.

Si Mahri continued to struggle for the peaceful change of power in his country, and to call for circulation over it until the end of his days, through the lectures and forums in which he participated, and he died (may God have mercy on him) on January 30, 2012, when Algeria left to bid him farewell.. May God have mercy on him Wide mercy and dwell him in his spacious gardens.