Child kidnapping sparks concerns in Algeria
2007-05-30
The kidnapping of Yacine Bouchelouh has raised awareness about the high number of child abductions in Algeria.
By Said Jameh for Magharebia in Algiers – 30/05/07
 [Said Jameh] Posters calling for information about Yacine Bouchelouh are all over Algiers. |
Algerians are concerned about the number of children abducted, and the kidnapping of Yacine Bouchelouh has captured the attention of parents throughout the country. Official statistics show the disappearance of 841 children since 2001, ranging in age from 4 to 16.
Recent abduction cases reported in the media have panicked Algerian families, particularly since last month, when Yacine Bouchelouh was abducted in front of his own home in the Bordj El Kiffan district of eastern Algiers. The police have been unable to solve the mystery of the missing child despite a massive search and investigation operation. Yacine’s story turned into a national issue after his parents stepped up their search and issued pleas to citizens and even the kidnappers.
Yacine’s mother has appeared twice on "Everything Is Possible", a television segment devoted to searching missing children, pleading with the kidnappers to release him and stressing she would give them anything they want.
The family also posted pictures of the abducted child in public squares, on major streets, at the entrance to shops, on the pages of most newspapers and on the official website of the Algerian police, in hopes of attaining any information.
Official figures for 2000 show on month with 28 kidnappings reported. In 2002, 117 children were kidnapped, 71 of them girls. The number of abductees rose to 168 children in 2004. Algerian police have already recorded 41 kidnappings of children during the first four months of this year.
Most missing children cases were reported in major cities, with the highest concentration in Algiers, Oran and Annaba.
Some Algerians attribute the trend of child abductions to criminal networks trafficking in human organs, while others feel the disappearances are sexually motivated.
In an effort to dispel hovering doubts about the appearance of networks trafficking human organs, security agencies denied the existence of such networks following Yacine’s abduction, noting that at present no organ trafficking operation had been recorded and the existence of such networks had not been discovered or reported.
Police officer Kheira Messaoudene, head of the Childhood Protection Office at the Police Directorate, said cases of missing children are not only attributable to kidnapping. Rather, there are children who resort to running away from their families for social reasons. She added that in "most cases" children are kidnapped to settle scores with the family and that often the kidnappers are family members. She speculated that Yacine might have been abducted by a family "out of curiosity".
Statements by security officials fail to assuage parents. Last year, 86 missing children were found dead.
Hayat, mother of a 9-year-old girl, told Magharebia she no longer lets her child go to school unaccompanied. She picks her up every day from school. Algiers resident Mouloud said that Yacine's case made him stop his only girl from playing in their building's courtyard.
In comments on local radio regarding the decline in public safety in recent years, former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia called for increased severity in sentencing convicted kidnappers, even including the death penalty. Algeria has historically reserved the death penalty for treason or other "violations of state security".
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chafi mouaadh Posted 2007-05-31
We need to have laws to avoid things like this. –Alirhab.
gcdd Gentil coquelicot défense et dévouement Posted 2007-05-31
Barka! Together, we all can act to have this stop. These children need us. Be vigilant. Unite us with the world to put a stop to this revolting horror
Kay Ram Posted 2007-06-03
I feel the parents need to organise themselves and ask the government for tighter laws in procecuting these evil perverted indivduals and asert tighter controls on thier children , algeria like most countries worldwide is facing decay of society , the schools need to play a bigger role in educating children about the dangers and parents need to be taking the responsibilty of raising their children instead of pushing them out the door as soon as they are able to walk. The government needs to invest more in to recreation for the society better facilites and more of them. Where children can play in a safe environment. algeria has the money so why are they not useing it!!!!! Children are the futre so lets give them what they deserve, : freedom and saftey to GROW into good citizens insha Allah.
MOHAMED IKBAL Posted 2007-06-13
The child is the rose of the society if it's spoilt all the society will be spoilt, what can then be said about kidnapping?
jayen dee Posted 2007-06-16
child abduction and trafficking is a big problem in many countries with many children apparently 'disappearing' off the face of the earth. These children are somewhere and so are the perpetrators, the only way it will stop is if those in power fight for it, unfortunatly it is often those rich in power or wealth who buy and sell these children for their own needs. As some children are worth alot of money in some countries, lobbying governments and raising awarenee of the problem is the only way this cruel abusive trade will be halted. The children are innocent and will have their lives ruined as they end up either dead or drug addicts prostituted out to anyone. innocence lost forever at an age too young to comprehend,
rial Posted 2007-06-20
Hello everyone, I would like to ask all the parents to be vigilant, because children are our future Algerians. Like this poor little one who has just been found, to the grief of his mother and father, God be with them. Please, look after your children.
rafik Posted 2007-06-20
May God have mercy on him
هاجر Posted 2007-06-21
Salam alaikoum...And now that they have found this little child dead, what can we say, may God guide us and guide all believers and Muslims to the right path, may be the hearts of European Christians are more merciful than the hearts of Muslims.
كوثر Posted 2007-06-24
Salam...We ask God's mercy for him and to host him in paradise and make him a key to paradise for his parents...Oh God grant us safety and wellness.
امينة Posted 2007-07-01
The rights of the child have to be implemented.
فاروق مداح Posted 2007-07-04
In the name of God, the least that can be said about these deeds is that they're stupid and are a result of a flaw in the education of these people and that they have grown up in a corrupt environment that have produced for us such bad examples that cannot be taken as idols....As for our sons, we say one thing: God is our mandate, and we ask god to protect them from every evil.
Yassine Posted 2007-07-08
My Algeria is blazing from the absence of the state and public order. Question: who must protect our society?
the patriot Posted 2007-10-05
The country of Miki, country of Tiki, the country where everything is fraudulent, everything is fabricated.
fayçal Posted 2007-10-20
They tell themselves that “all of these kidnappings are due to parents’ carelessness and negligence”, thinking that this only happens to other people. This is wrong. We are all concerned in this. If we do nothing, then tomorrow will see another one of us taken away. Let us act to create a police specialized in the protection of our children.
خالد Posted 2008-01-03
I'm making a research about ransom and kidnapping in Algeria. So please help me with available topics, studies, statistics...Thank you.
Abdou Posted 2008-01-19
I think that there can be only one thing behind this rise in kidnapping: paedophilia. So, stop hiding the sun with behind your veil and attack the roots of this evil. Algerian society has changed a lot, and unfortunately, more so for the worse than for the better.
mida Posted 2008-02-11
What our society is suffering through at this moment is really unfortunate. In my opinion, this is because of the radical change our social and economic lives have undergone. There are a lot of foreigners who are integrating into our society, so we need to find a solution together because their danger is upon our doorstep. We need to stop patronising them so that they cannot work here anymore. And, we do not need to imitate them. Thank you
hicham *oran* Posted 2008-03-13
Stupid people are living in these days. My brothers, mercy is gone (ghouls) the monster will always exist so long as God does not exterminate it, and remove it from our traces forever.
lina-radya Posted 2008-03-14
"What is happening to our society is increasingly disturbing and distressing." Of course this is what everybody is saying. And then, in light of this sad air, they curse the State a thousand times over for having made us powerless without ever having taken a second to think about think about all this. I would say that there is indeed something to this, but why not pose ourselves some questions—and not necessarily good ones? Just ask ourselves where exactly our responsibility is in all of this. All the more so, given that this is all unfolding right before our very eyes and we do nothing about it, except remain spectators. We are far from living in a perfect world—we all understand this—but how long are we going to accept submitting ourselves to scrutiny, which is in fact not scrutiny at all? Where are the descendants of those great heroes who gave their lives because they refused to live in a world without being their own masters, who did no want to resolve themselves to a fate with which they did not agree. Seize these words, which are not aimed at offending anyone: perhaps if you change your point of view, your vision will be clearer.
شهرزاد Posted 2008-04-15
I am a child, I am 16. I ask all prominent figures in society to act before it is too late and intensify efforts to find kidnapped children and execute their kidnappers.
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