An Algerian political figure sparked a storm of criticism after stating that "Algerian female martyrs sacrificed their honor," which human rights activists and women's groups considered an affront to the "martyrs'" dignity.
Lamine Ousmane, head of the "Voice of the People" party, said during an interview: "This country was built on the blood of men and women, and we should not play with it. The female martyrs gave their blood and their honor for the nation."
The remark triggered a wave of backlash. Some argued that he "went too far against the female fighters of the revolution; it cannot be considered that the martyrs, who fought to preserve their honor, sacrificed their honor." Others stated: "The head of the party must issue a formal apology to the Algerian people."
Meanwhile, others defended Ousmane, calling it a clear slip of the tongue, as evident from the context of his speech, in which he was advocating for women.
Among the critics was lawyer and legal advisor Fatima Rouibi, who described the statement as "dangerous," asking: "What kind of humiliation is this? What kind of an encroachment on a history shaped by women who gave their lives, not their honor?" She explained that "it is crucial to distinguish between the phrase 'the martyrs sacrificed their honor,' which implies they willingly relinquished their dignity, and the painful historical fact that some Algerian women were raped by colonizers."
Rouibi, in a post, called on the Ministry of Martyrs to "intervene immediately and file a complaint against the author of this statement."
In turn, Lamine Ousmane, head of the "Voice of the People" party, explained his intention in a conversation with "Alarabiya.net": "When we talk linguistically, honor is defending the land, the home, the children. This is the correct concept. It means that the female martyr sacrificed herself and remains a model worldwide, not just in Algeria, for her sacrifices." He also added: "All the controversy around this issue is just fishing in muddy waters, linguistic jargon. A truth that some want to turn into a falsehood. It is also an unethical insinuation, because it is unreasonable that in the context of a speech where I am defending women and holding them up as an example, I would say what I said, as I was calling the generation of independence to follow the martyrs in their sacrifices."
