The hunger strike of the Algerian prisoners and detainees abroad (1–20 November 1961) and its echo in the Tunisian newspaper Al-ʿAmal (The Action)

Algerian prisoners abroad, Hunger strike (1–20 November 1961), Algerian War of Independence, Tunisian newspaper Al-ʿAmal, International solidarity

This article offers an account of one of the most important chapters in the struggle of the Algerian prisoners abroad and brings out their cohesion and solidarity with the Algerian War of Independence through the historic hunger strike conducted from 1 to 20 November 1961. Thousands of political detainees and members of the National Liberation Front (FLN) held across the various French prisons took part in it to denounce the policy of repression and arbitrary detention, to demand recognition as political detainees, and to make the Algerian cause known internationally. The strike constituted a powerful instrument of pressure that coincided with decisive rounds of the independence negotiations. The article also shows the considerable solidarity that the Tunisian press extended to this event, foremost the newspaper Al-ʿAmal, the organ of the Free Constitutional Party (Neo-Destour) (al-Ḥizb al-Ḥurr al-Dustūrī al-Tūnisī), which stood at the forefront of the media platforms that took an interest in covering it and following its developments and dimensions.