Rabeh Kebir
Encyclopedia
Rabah Kebir is an Algeria
n islamic leader, and a former leader of the Islamic Salvation Front
(FIS), an islamic Algerian party
which won the elections in the nineties. The dissolution of the FIS by military decree
after its electoral victories in 1991-92 triggered the Algerian Civil War
, in which the FIS-affiliated Islamic Salvation Army (AIS) and other militia
s fought the military-dominated government. Kebir spent most of the war years in exile
in the Germany, acting as a main figure in the party's political leadership.
In 1995, Kebir and Anwar Haddam
both signed the Sant'Egidio Platform
- a joint document by opposition
parties demanding a reinstatement of democracy
in Algeria - as representatives of FIS.
In 2006, Rabeh Kebir returned to Algeria upon being amnestied
by the state, something which was given widespread coverage in the Algerian press, and was viewed by many as a milestone in the reconciliation efforts to bring the civil war to a definitive end. He remains formally banned from political activities, but has held press conferences declaring his intentions to return to politics despite this.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n islamic leader, and a former leader of the Islamic Salvation Front
Islamic Salvation Front
The Islamic Salvation Front is an outlawed Islamist political party in Algeria.-Goals:...
(FIS), an islamic Algerian party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
which won the elections in the nineties. The dissolution of the FIS by military decree
Decree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
after its electoral victories in 1991-92 triggered the Algerian Civil War
Algerian Civil War
The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups which began in 1991. It is estimated to have cost between 150,000 and 200,000 lives, in a population of about 25,010,000 in 1990 and 31,193,917 in 2000.More than 70 journalists were...
, in which the FIS-affiliated Islamic Salvation Army (AIS) and other militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
s fought the military-dominated government. Kebir spent most of the war years in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in the Germany, acting as a main figure in the party's political leadership.
In 1995, Kebir and Anwar Haddam
Anwar Haddam
Anwar Haddam was a leader of the Islamic Salvation Front , a Islamist party in Algeria, and was elected to parliament on a FIS ticket in 1991 - Algeria's first multiparty elections...
both signed the Sant'Egidio Platform
Sant'Egidio platform
The Sant'Egidio Platform of January 13, 1995 was an attempt by most of the major Algerian opposition parties to put an end to the Algerian Civil War, which had begun in 1992 as a military coup d'état overturned election results that would have brought the Islamic Salvation Front , an Islamic party,...
- a joint document by opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
parties demanding a reinstatement of democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
in Algeria - as representatives of FIS.
In 2006, Rabeh Kebir returned to Algeria upon being amnestied
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
by the state, something which was given widespread coverage in the Algerian press, and was viewed by many as a milestone in the reconciliation efforts to bring the civil war to a definitive end. He remains formally banned from political activities, but has held press conferences declaring his intentions to return to politics despite this.