The skulls of 24 Algerian anti-colonial soldiers, beheaded in the 1800s by French forces, were formally repatriated back to Algeria on Friday amid a renewed global discussion about the legacy of colonialism.
They were received from France in an elaborate ceremony attended by the President and senior army officials, with a 21-gun salute sounding as the military plane carrying the bodies landing in Algiers.
Army chief Said Chengiha said it was a special day for Algeria.
“The valiant resistance fighters who refused the colonisation of their country by imperial France were displayed immorally for decades, like vulgar objects of antiquity, without respect for their dignity, their memory,” he said in a speech.
“That is the monstrous face of colonisation,” he added. The coffins were draped with the Algerian flag and carried out of aircraft by soldiers.
The skulls will be laid to rest on Sunday on the 58th anniversary of Algerian independence from France. The French presidency said it was a gesture of friendship.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who bowed in front of each coffin, said on the Thursday that the the decapitated fighters "had been deprived of their natural and human right to be buried for more than 170 years".
He called them "heroes who confronted the brutal French occupation between 1838 and 1865".
The 24 soldiers fought French colonial forces who occupied Algeria in 1830 and took part in an 1849 revolt. After they were decapitated, their skulls were taken to France as trophies.
"The savage enemy decapitated them in reprisals before transferring their skulls overseas so that their graves would not become a symbol of the resistance," Mr Tebboune added.
Their repatriation follows the discovery of the skulls at a Paris museum in 2011 by an Algerian history who lobbied for their return.
French President Emmanuel Macron agreed in 2018 but bureaucratic obstacles delayed the return until now.
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Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
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Volvo ES90 Specs
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The Sand Castle
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Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
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