In the wake of the tragic assassination of Hervé Gourdel, a French national kidnapped and killed by a jihadist group in Algeria, Christian Gourcuff, coach of the Algerian national football team, has spoken out to defend the country’s image and assure the public of his own sense of safety.
In an interview with Ouest-France, Gourcuff emphasized that the actions of the terrorist group do not reflect the nation or its people:
“What happened, this horrible incident, is not Algeria. We must not reduce Algeria to certain horrors,” he said, referring to the extremists who had pledged allegiance to ISIS.
Gourcuff also challenged the perception of Algeria often held abroad, particularly in France:
“The view from France is different from reality. There is an extraordinary human warmth here. I am not afraid, I do not feel any aggression.”
Despite the difficult circumstances, the French coach has remained in Algiers, continuing his work with the Fennecs (Algerian national team), demonstrating his commitment and trust in the country and its people. His words stand as a call for nuance, urging the international community not to judge Algeria based on the actions of extremist factions.
