Cheb Faudel to Echorouk: “The stage with Sarkozy is over…The Israelis sequestered me for 10 hours and I am proud to have sung in Ramallah”.

For his first interview with an Algerian newspaper, the France – based Raï singer, Cheb Faudel, has chosen “Echorouk” to reply to his critics who lashed at him for his involvement in Nicholas Sarkozy's election campaign with its “ideological musty taste” as well as for his controversial music concerts in Morocco and Israel which touched off adverse reactions on both sides of the Mediterranean basin.

• Cheb Faudel : I must say that I had before no request to this effect from an Algerian newspaper. As far as Mami and Khaled are concerned, these 2 singers started their artistic career in Algeria itself before embarking on an International career notably in France.
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• As for me, I did the opposite by starting my artistic career in France with the clear ambition of having also a public in Maghrebian countries and especially in Algeria.
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• Cheb Faudel : This is what certain evil – minded persons have sought to spread in the media in order to deal a blow to my artistic career.
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• These are only mendacious allegations which did hurt me a lot. My family even went as far as regretting to have seen me following an artistic career on account of this heinous campaign against me.
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• But I should remind these newsmongers that my deep attachment to Algeria is very strong and unfailing.
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• Cheb Faudel : Some people amplified this electoral event in France notably from the Maghreb countries.
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• I was very upset at these hostile reactions because my principal objective in that campaign was to mark on the French political scene the presence of those Frenchmen and Frenchwomen of Maghrebian origins, mostly of Algerian origins, to allow them to have their say and pull their weight in all fields of endeavour in France, beyond any bias or discrimination.
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• In the USA for instance, the stunning ascent of a black, namely Barak Obama, to the Presidency is striking and could snowball elsewhere.
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• Cheb Faudel : I am wondering on what criteria these people dare to judge someone about his degree of nationalism !
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• Nationalism is a feeling of belonging and attachment to one’s motherland and is not just “empty talk”.
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• No one can call into question or doubt my patriotism towards Algeria.
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• I should remind you that I have a twin nationality, French and Algerian and I am proud of my Algerian nationality.
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• Certain Algerian singers, newly settled in France, have said wrong and bad things about me. I regard this as tantamount to defamation and backbiting.
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• Their so – called “lessons” about nationalism have petered out.
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• I should say that these backbiters came to France a few years ago to secure shamelessly a residence permit and “sold’ all their principles to obtain the French nationality.
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• Cheb Faudel : Of course, I did ! I cancelled on that day a scheduled photographic session for my new album to go and cast my ballot.
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• Cheb Faudel : A certain press  wrote untruths about this Ramallah music concert.
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• It was malicious propaganda.
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• I should tell you that on arrival in Israel, I was sequestered by Israeli border – guards for more than 10 hours.
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• They clearly wanted to prevent me from giving this concert for young Palestinians of Ramallah, arguing that I had the Algerian nationality.
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• The services of the French Embassy in Israel had to intervene in order to allow me to sing on the Ramallah stage to young Palestinians to make them forget for a while during this joyful moment the harrowing ordeal of Israeli occupation.
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• The young Palestinians were very enthusiastic and I am proud to have been able to give this music concert on Palestinian land.
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• : Yes, I am scheduled to give a music concert shortly in Algiers at the invitation of the Management of the “Sofitel” hotel.
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• I am also planning to give several concerts in Algeria during the upcoming summer season. I am already bracing for the event!
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