(10)    Thu 15 Jun 95  1:07
By: Robin Murray-o'hair
To: All
Re: Soccor Murder/Jihad
St:
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@TID: WILDMAIL!/WC v4.11  94-0279
SOCCER BOOSTER MURDERED IN FUNDAMENTALIST JIHAD

30,000 Have Been Killed in Algeria As the Islamic Salvation Front
Continues Its Terror Campaign

by Conrad F. Goeringer

     Islamic militants continued their holy war in Algeria Sunday, June
11,  murdering a popular soccer fan known throughout the country for his
colorful garb and stadium antics.  Hocine Dehimi was 33 and known to
hundreds of thousands of fans as "Yamaha." For the past 15 years, he was
a mascot for the national soccer team and his home club in the Belcourt
section of Algiers.  "Yamaha" followed his teams to away-matches,
danced, led crowds in songs and chants, and banged drums to build up
enthusiasm during the matches.

     Thousands of Algerian youth poured into the streets of the poor
Belcourt section yesterday in protest of this latest act of violence.  It
appears that the murder was carried out by the fundamentalist Islamic
Salvation Front which has carried out a terror campaign in its efforts to
establish an  Iran-style "Islamic Social Republic" and abolish reforms
made in Algeria by the secular government and other progressive elements.


     Originally, the Front targeted military and political leaders, but
has now begun executing popular cultural figures as well.  The popular
singer known as Hasni, whose cassettes and records were sold throughout
the Middle East, was killed in September 1994.  The newspaper El Watan
said like Hasni, the young Dehimi was a symbol "of hope for young people
thirsting to live, not kill."

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