French President Apologizes to Algeria for Former Colonial Rule, Calling it "Profoundly Unjust"
"Yes, the colonial system was profoundly unjust, contrary to the three founding words of our Republic: freedom, equality, brotherhood..."
Algeria)—Visiting Algeria this week, French President Nicolas Sarkozy apologized for France's colonial rule of the country, calling it "profoundly unjust" and said both France and Algeria should fight "all forms of racism." (Photo: AFP)
According to a BBC report, the French president noted that numerous crimes had been committed on both sides during Algeria's independence war from 1954 to 1962.
Mr. Sarkozy said on Monday: "There is nothing that more closely resembles anti-Semitism than Islamophobia. Both have the same face: that of stupidity and hate."
France has long been accused of refusing to apologize for past grievances, so Sarkozy's apology is of great significance.
