French authorities have arrested three Algerian content creators whose inflammatory TikTok posts reached hundreds of thousands of viewers. The case has exposed tensions between Paris and Algiers, as diplomatic relations continue to sour over issues ranging from immigration to regional politics.
TikTok Terror Charges
Three Algerian TikTok creators face terror charges in France after posting calls for violence, as fresh wounds emerge in French-Algerian relations.
French police arrested “Imad Tintin” near Grenoble for urging followers to “burn alive, kill and rape on French territory” in a video that drew 800,000 views. “Imad Tintin” arrived in France in 2021 and sought residency after marrying a French citizen, but authorities denied his application.
Prosecutors will try a second creator, “Zazou Youssef,” in Brest on the 24th of February. His posts to hundreds of thousands of followers advocated terror, prosecutors say. He could serve seven years in prison and pay a €100,000 fine. Police arrested a third creator, “Doualemn,” in Montpellier after he allegedly called for violence against Algerian dissidents.
Political Battle
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau shared clips of what he called “vile” content, warning perpetrators would face justice. The arrests have emerged as diplomatic ties worsen between France and its former colony of over a century.
Sébastien Chenu, vice president of the National Rally party, seized on the arrests to accuse Algeria of undermining France. “There seems to be a deliberate campaign to destabilise France orchestrated by people close to the Algerian government or the Algerian government itself,” Chenu told CNews. “These influencers share the same tone, the same message, at the same time”.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot questioned Algeria’s commitment to the 2022 roadmap meant to improve relations. “We want it to be followed,” Barrot told RTL radio. “However, we see actions and decisions by the Algerian authorities that cast doubt on their intention to adhere to this roadmap”.
Diplomatic Tensions
Algerian authorities arrested French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in November, deepening the rift. Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune called Sansal an “imposter” working for France.
Algeria pulled its ambassador from Paris last summer after French President Emmanuel Macron backed Morocco’s plan for Western Sahara. The move angered Algerian officials who support the Polisario Front’s bid for the territory’s self-determination.
Identity Politics
For French citizens with Algerian roots, these disputes create conflicting identity questions. Chawki Benzehra, an Algerian activist who fled to France in 2019, told AFP the arrested TikTokers joined “the war waged in France by the Algerian regime”.
French authorities vow to pursue those who spread hate online. Two of the detained creators already faced expulsion orders, showing how immigration policy feeds into the broader diplomatic breakdown. The arrests reveal a pattern where historical grievances and current political fights spread onto social platforms, catching dual-heritage citizens in the middle.
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