New York Times: Algeria’s “Hirak” Or Popular Movement Is “Unique”

The peaceful nature of the February 22 popular movement, an unprecedented event since the independence of Algeria in 1962, has attracted the interest of the international press, including the New York Times.

The newspaper said in an article published on Monday that “this unprecedented revolution without the shedding of one drop of blood, may be unique in the Arab world,” citing Algerian protesters and analysts.

Media outlets quoted the former minister and former ambassador Abdelaziz Rahabi as saying that popular demonstrations in recent months in Algeria could serve as an example for a comprehensive change in the region.

“There is no parallel to it in the Arab world,” he said.

“What we have lived for six months has not been seen in the Arab world in 40 years,” he told the New York Times.

In this context, Mr. Rahabi referred to the victories that the popular protest movement, which succeeded in “isolating a president without exile” as in Tunisia and “without imprisoning” as in Egypt and “without killing” as in Libya, arguing that the world was fascinated by this peaceful popular movement.

“So do not tell me that things are not going well,” he said, stressing that “no one has been killed” since the beginning of this popular movement.

The newspaper also confirmed that Algerians are “proud” of what the quiet revolution has achieved so far “and remain” confident “about the future.

The New York Times also brought to the fore the peaceful responses by the security forces to the demonstrators, thus avoiding any bloody confrontation.