A well-known French journalist has resigned from his role as an expert analyst for broadcaster RTL following controversy over remarks comparing France’s colonial-era actions in Algeria to a Nazi massacre in World War II.
Jean-Michel Aphatie, a veteran journalist, announced his departure on Sunday, stating that he stood by his comments despite the backlash. His remarks, made on February 25 during a radio broadcast, likened French atrocities in Algeria to the massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane, where Nazi forces killed 642 civilians in June 1944.
“Every year in France, we commemorate what happened in Oradour-sur-Glane. But we committed hundreds of similar massacres in Algeria. Are we aware of this?” Aphatie said on air. When challenged by the anchor on whether the French had acted like the Nazis, he responded, “The Nazis behaved like us.”
His statements sparked a wave of criticism, leading to numerous complaints filed with France’s media regulator, Arcom, which has since launched an investigation. Following a one-week suspension from RTL, Aphatie decided not to return, saying it would imply he had admitted wrongdoing. “If I come back, I validate this and admit I made a mistake. That is a line I cannot cross,” he wrote on social media.
The debate over France’s colonial history in Algeria remains a deeply sensitive issue. The 1954-1962 war for independence, along with earlier decades of French rule, saw widespread human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and mass detentions. These historical wounds continue to strain relations between France and Algeria today.
Aphatie maintained that his comments were intended to encourage deeper reflection on France’s past, expressing his horror at the historical accounts he had studied. His resignation highlights the enduring controversy surrounding France’s role in Algeria and the challenges of addressing its colonial legacy.