In 1997, women who have identified with secular culture in Algeria were
kidnapped and made into sex slave by rebels fighting in the name of Islamic revolution.
(Barbara Crossette, "An Old Scourge of War Becomes Its Latest Crime," New
York Times, 18 June 1998)
Algerian women are raped, forced into prostitution and temporary marriages, beaten and
beheading for failure to wear head coverings by Islamic militants in Algeria. Armed
terrorists committed hundreds of rapes against female victims, most of whom were
subsequently murdered ("Rights - Women: Women Denied Rights Everywhere," IPS,
2 February 1998)
At least 500 girls have been kidnapped by rebels and 300 raped during attacks on
villages. Many of those kidnapped were found later with their throats cut in mass graves.
Western sources estimate that 65,000 people have been murdered. The violence started after
the authorities cancelled the 1992 general election dominated by Islamists. (La Nouvelle
Republique daily, "Algerian girls escape rebels, leave pregnant friend," Reuters,
23 March 1998)
4,000 Algerian women have been victims of violence, including kidnaping rape and murder
during the civil war throughout the last 6 years. ("4,000 women are victims of
violence in Algeria," ArabicNews.Com, 21 March 1998)
Official Response and Action
The Algerian government has asked religious authorities to declare a fatwa or religious
edict allowing women raped during political violence to have abortions. Hundreds of babies
born as a result of rapes by Islamic fundamentalists have been abandoned. ("Algeria:
abortion appeal for raped women," BBC World Service, 2 March 1998)