On Thursday, June 6, 2024, the minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mr. Kamel Baddari, chaired the ceremony of commemoration of the 62nd anniversary of the arson of the library of the University of Algiers carried out by the French occupation, as part of the celebration of the National Book and Library Day.
The ceremony commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the arson of the library of the University of Algiers committed on June 7, 1962, was held in the presence of the rector of the Great Mosque of Algiers, Cheikh Mohamed Mamoune El Kacimi El Hassini, representatives of both Ministries of Defence and Culture, as well as a number of University officials and students. The minister asserted during the event that “the French occupation committed this crime against science and knowledge in a time when the Algerian people were preparing to validate their independence and celebrate their freedom after a long journey of fight and struggle.”
“In the wake of independence, Algeria embarked on a series of reforms aimed at the Algerian university leading to the ones initiated by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune since 2020, making it a locomotive of development, creativity and wealth creating university, open to its economic and social environment and contributes to the welfare of the people and its health and food independence,” he added.
During this event, the minister also oversaw the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement between the National Library, represented by its General Director, Mr. Mounir Bahadi, and the library of the University of Algiers 1 Benyoucef Benkheda, represented by its Director, Mr. Fares Mokhtari, which includes scientific partnership and cooperation in the field of books and manuscripts restoration and the organization of forums.
On this occasion, many revolutionary and cultural personalities were honoured, among them, the Mudjahid Zoulikha Bekkadour, as the former curator of the central library of the University of Algiers 1, the president of the Higher Council of Arabic Language, Mr. Salah Belaïd, and the president of the Algerian Academy of the Arabic Language, Mr. Cherif Meribai.