Algeria’s parliament has unanimously passed legislation declaring France’s colonisation of the country a crime. Lawmakers stood in the chamber draped in scarves bearing the national colours, chanting “Long live Algeria” as they approved the bill. Parliament also formally demanded an apology and reparations from Paris in a move that seeks to redress attempts to sweep the issue aside. Algeria gained independence 63 years ago. France’s colonisation of Algeria between 1830 and 1962 was marked by mass killings, large-scale deportations and ended in a bloody war of independence. Algeria says the war killed 1.5 million people, while French historians put the death toll much lower.
