Sanctioned following his remarks on colonization in Algeria, Jean-Michel Apathie explains why he will not return to RTL
Journalist Jean-Michel Apathie said today on X (ex-Twitter): “I will not return to RTL. This is my decision. ” Settled by the station after his remarks on Algerian colonization, he refuses to endorse what he considers an unfair sanction.
He explains : “Even decided as part of a serene and understanding dialogue, a punishment remains a punishment.” According to him, returning to the antenna would amount to recognizing a fault which he does not admit.
Jean-Michel Aphatie insists on the importance of the subject of colonization in his intellectual commitment: “I attach a particular price to the question of the French presence in Algeria between 1830 and 1962.” He specifies however: “I am not concerned personally. Neither my father, nor my uncles, nor other members of my family participated in the Algerian war. Nor do I have connections or links with French repatriated from this country. ” His interest in this period came to him by wondering about“The conditions for the return to power of General de Gaulle, in May 1958”who had placed Algeria at the center of the political crisis.
In his readings, he says he discovered facts that marked him: “What I read in the books written by meticulous historians horrified me.” He describes so “The massacres of Muslims (…) throughout the 132 years of occupation” and reminds that “A so -called indigennat status, applied from 1881, deprived the first occupants of the space of all rights and imposed them archaic and unjust easements.” According to him, extreme poverty and limited access to education have made the situation all the more intolerable.
The journalist deplores the lack of official recognition of the violence of colonization and underlines: “All this draws up a picture unworthy of France with regard to the values of humanity which make its reputation in the world.” He says: “I experienced as an injustice maintained the lack of official recognition by the colonizer of degrading treatments inflicted on this population.”
Despite his attachment to RTL, he says he did not be able to return without denying his convictions. “For this reason, and only for this reason, I cannot agree to be punished for having repeated them.”
Finally, he widens the debate hoping for a historical awareness: “One day, it is my hope, France, my country, will suit its part of inhumanity in history.“” “ A statement that will not fail to relaunch discussions on the memory of colonization and its consequences in public debate.
I will not return to RTL. This is my decision. Here is why.
Fifteen days ago, my words about Algerian colonization created the debate. The management of the radio told me that it had recorded many protests from listeners. To make emotion right … pic.twitter.com/q8ce7m7rok
-Jean-Michel Aphatie (@jmaphatie) March 9, 2025
