Ayyash Senoussi-Algeria

After the decision of the Algerian authorities to close the central post square due to the occurrence of some cracks in the corridors, the protesters turned into the "Martyrs Square" of the space, which is only about 1.5 kilometers away.

In addition, access to it passes through Zigod Youssef Street (one of the heroes of the liberation revolution) overlooking the sea, and it is more likely to walk to it.

"As of Friday 15, the victory of the martyrs will be from Martyrs' Square," wrote Hassan Zahar.

Five centuries
It dates back to five centuries, when it was known as the "Kachawa" before witnessing one of the largest massacres of France during the occupation of the country in 1830 by the execution of more than four thousand worshipers in the nearby mosque.

"Before the advent of the Ottomans in the 17 th century AD, Algeria was not known," says historian and scholar Mohamed Amin Belghith of Al-Jazeera Net.

According to the spokesman, the center of Algiers during the 16th century was currently in the area of ​​Hama and Blouzdad.

At the turn of the 17th century, the center was transformed into the Kasbah district, which was built between the architecture of the Maurice and its counterpart in Ottoman Anatolia, and witnessed remarkable urban development through the construction of one hundred and three mosques, 26 tombs and dozens of corners.

It is regrettable that only three Mosques remained in these mosques after the independence of Algeria in 1962. The architecture of the city was changed and replaced by French architecture.

Variable names
When the French occupation was introduced, this square was named "Kachaoua", meaning goats' yard, because it was a market where Algerians meet and the goats are heavily cared for.

Later known as the "government square" or "plaza oud", meaning the Algerian dialect "Square horse", referring to the statue, which was erected in 1845 in the courtyard in honor of the Duke Ferdinand Philippe Durlian, and appears to enjoy his horse.

The Algerian historian pointed out that in 1832, under the command of General Duque du Rovigo, the French army committed one of its most heinous crimes, and executed about 4,500 worshipers who had gathered at the Kachawa Mosque, which was built in 1612.

The day was a sit-in protesting the conversion of the mosque to a church. According to the speaker, the first mass that took place in this church was on the night of Christmas 24 December 1832 by Father Debush.

Balghith pointed out that "Martyrs Square" was transformed during the Liberation Revolution (1954) into a center for the graduation of heroes, and in one of the shops spread nearby, the Algerian flag was sewn.

According to reports, the French general Massu was taken from the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry off the scene to monitor the activities of the Algerian revolutionary symbol Mohammed al-Arabi Ben Mehdi and the eight-day strike in 1957.

Victory Day
After the independence of Algeria in 1962, the first Friday prayer was held at the Kachawa Mosque under the leadership of Sheikh Al-Bashir Al-Ibrahimi, and since that day the square has been called the Martyrs Square.

Balghith confirmed that the launch of "Square Martyrs" was a tribute to all the martyrs of Algeria, not to honor the worshipers who were martyred inside the mosque only 132 years ago.

After independence, the scene saw no significant event except those of the FIS rallies in 1989.

Following the "Oil and Sugar" uprising in 2011, the former leader of the left-wing Party of Culture and Democracy (CDC) took every Saturday to rally his supporters against the regime until it was called Saad Sabbat.

In 2012, an archaeological site was discovered in the square during excavation work to extend the capital's underground tunnels. Second-century antiquities, Roman arches, mosaics of a fifth-century church and a Byzantine tomb from the 7th century were discovered.