Djamila Bentouis was born on September 8, 1963 (age 60) in Boukader (Chlef). In 1985, she began working as a midwife at El Sobha Hospital in Chlef. Appreciated by all and recognized for her working skills, she became head of staff at the Hospital.
Djamila emigrated to France, leaving her six-year-old son with her family in Algeria. She worked hard as a nurse aide, doing all she could to be reunited with her son. Djamila married again in 2000 and gave birth to two children, aged 19 and 21 now. She grew up in a family of musicians—her father was a flautist, and her brother was a guitarist. Djamila took harp lessons and enrolled her children at the conservatory of music.
Born into a family fully engaged in the War of Liberation, Djamila’s love for Algeria has been truthful. Like millions of Algerians, she took part in the Hirak, writing poetry and patriotic songs. In Paris, Djamila usually grabs the mic at the Place de la République to recite her poetry. The demonstrators took up her texts wholeheartedly. Djamila managed to record some of her songs on the Hirak, which are widely shared on social networks.
On February 25, 2024, Djamila travelled to Algeria to visit her dying mother. She was arrested and questioned by the police at Algiers airport. The police confiscated her travel documents before releasing her on February 28 with an obligation to report to the Dar El Beïda judicial police (Algiers). Djamila was again questioned about her participation in the Hirak, her political opinions and a song she wrote and performed. She is held in preventive detention and prosecuted under article 87 bis for “membership to a terrorist entity”. She is also charged with accusations of “undermining the integrity and security of the State” and “inciting unarmed gatherings”. Her lawyers appealed against her pre-trial detention, but the indictment chamber upheld the decision on March 13. Djamila has been held in Koléa prison (Tipaza) for almost a month.
