Commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the 17 October 1961 Massacres in Paris: A Minute of Silence in Remembrance of the Martyrs.

Pursuant to the decision of the President of the Republic, formalised by Presidential Decree No. 21-392 dated 9 Rabie El Aouel 1443, corresponding to 16 October 2021, establishing the observance of a minute of silence in tribute to the Chouhada of the massacres of 17 October 1961, and marking the sixty-fifth anniversary of these tragic events, the various entities of the Atomic Energy Commission, alongside, other state institutions, observed a minute of silence at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, 17 October 2026. This solemn tribute honoured the victims of the brutal repression unleashed against peaceful demonstrations organised by Algerians living in France to demand freedom and independence for their homeland.

This moment of solemn remembrance stands as a lasting tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who gave their lives for the dignity, freedom and independence of the Algerian people. It also serves as a powerful lesson for present and future generations, recalling the immense human cost of the struggle for national liberation. Like a flame illuminating the path to freedom, the sacrifices of these martyrs conveyed a universal message to the world: the dignity of a people cannot be extinguished by repression.

This commemoration forms an integral part of the enduring endeavour to preserve Algeria’s national memory and to pass on the fundamental values of the glorious Revolution of
1 November 1954 to successive generations. It reaffirms the importance of keeping alive the memory of the defining milestones in Algeria’s struggle for freedom and of ensuring that the ideals of sacrifice, dignity, solidarity and sovereignty that shaped the nation’s history continue to inspire the collective consciousness of the Algerian people.