By T. Thassa

(Algiers)–Frantz Fanon–a successful and fast-growing publishing company in Algeria, which published 150 books in a decade was prohibited to operate business by the Algerian authorities from 14 January 2025. The motive they raised was to publish a “book in which content undermines security, public order, national identity, and spreading hateful speech as well”. 

The book that raised this issue is an essay entitled The Jewish Algeria of Hédia Bensalhi, a French-Algerian author, which spans over 2000 years of history and Jewish heritage.

Last year, another book was withdrawn from sale at Gouraya’s bookstore of Hela Ouardi, entitled The Last Days of Muhammed by the Béjaïa department of commerce. The authorities motivated the sale’s suspension by “book does not conform to Islam teachings” and “toxic ideas“.