observed in the Caliphate countries, though it was better maintained and the details were more stylish, giving the appearance of a certain affluence.
“Tell me Ennis, is this your first visit to our country?”
“Yes, as you know I’ve just arrived from Algiers.”
“Yes of course. Here it’s different, over there they are traditionalist, you know, the Caliphate and Islam. Here it’s more like Paris if you like and of course we’re a secular state.”
“Yes, I’m sorry,” said Ennis trying to excuse the ignorance perceived by the General Director.
“Don't worry, it’s nothing. There’s no excuses between friends,” Djellali said smiling and with a broad forgiving gesture of his hands.
“But don’t forget that the majority of us are Muslims, not in exactly the same manner as those in the Caliphates, but you know like Christians in Paris. There are no obligations, religion is a personal affair, we are free, not fundamentalists. It’s the desire of our President to make a compromise between fundamentalism with its strict application of the principals of Islam and an Islam turned towards the modern world. In our country we have no conflicts such as between the advocates of a religious theocracy and that of a secular society.”
“I understand,” replied Ennis in a conciliatory tone.
“You have to understand there is nothing more normal than to be a Muslim in our country. However, our President Hassan bin Ibrani is totally against all forms of extremism, whether they are religious or political.”
The secretary reappeared carrying a tray of oriental cakes and a pot of mint tea.
“Tea! What a good idea. Now we can talk about the reason for your assignment in Algharb.”
“It’s not exactly an assignment, that's to say that I have several objectives. As you are aware I am a journalist and a writer, specialised in European-Arab relations.”
“Ah, a reporter.”
“I’m not a reporter as such. My job is to analyse events and developments for the viewers of Global Focus, and the readers of the Washington newspaper the International Herald Post.”
“I’m right then, there is a newspaper,” he said disingenuously.
“Yes, but my role is to analyse situations.”
“I see, a subtle difference.”
“Then there is of course the preparation of a new book that I am writing.”
“So in a manner of speaking you will examine our performance in political and foreign relations?” said Djellali playing with Ennis.
“I don’t have any specific political interests or inclinations.”
“I see,” he said smiling and easing up.
“As I mentioned one of the reasons for visiting your country is also to collect material for a new book. It examines events over the last twenty-five years in the Islamic world. The book will explain how they have affected the evolution of Europe today.”
Djellali could not resist a smile and turned his head towards the large window of his office from which a splendid view of the port could be admired.
“Effectively, we are very close to Europe today, n’est ce pas?”
“Quite so.”
“Well John Ennis, I'm entirely at your disposition, today our governments policy is directed towards the development of relations with Europe and more especially our friend, France. It’s true that we've had some difficult times in the past, but today we are turned towards the future. For our independence and self determination it is necessary.”
“My objective, Monsieur Djellali, is not to present any partisan opinions. I simply wish to write an informative and balanced history of the changes that have led to present day Europe and the nearby Arab world. My book will be mainly addressed to readers of less than say forty years old, people who are not at all familiar with those events.”
“Interesting.”
“Yes, perhaps I’ll call my book a Bridge Between Two Worlds’”.
“A good title. Well I’m at your entire disposal and I suggest that you commence with a short guided visit to our beautiful and historic capital. After that Abdelhamid will take over, you understand that unfortunately I have many other responsibilities. Tomorrow evening we can dine together ... it’s true that this is your first visit to Algharb?”
“Absolutely. I have visited France in the past, but it’s really my first visit to your country,” Ennis replied with a smile.
“Excellent!”
North Africa
Of course the birth of the Western Caliphate and Algharb would be one of the key elements of the series. After a more general introduction, the events that led up to the creation of the Western Caliphate would be examined in more detail, including the effects of climatic change on the economies of its member states that ranged from the Red Sea to the Atlantic. How it had been founded by the unification of the North African Arab countries under the leadership of El Rashidun, the ‘Guide’.
The charismatic Guide had been a 21st century Ataturk, born into a modest family in a small village in Kabylie, a Berber region lying in the mountainous northern part of Algeria. Like all Algerians he was a Muslim, though not all the Muslims of Algeria were Arabs. At the beginning of the 21st century there were almost five million Berbers in Algeria and another ten million in neighbouring Morocco, they were the descendents of the pre-Arab peoples of North Africa, as in fact were the majority of North Africans, who had undergone arabization over many hundreds of years. The Berbers had been converted to Islam following the Arab conquest of the 7th century, though many had retained their languages and their traditions.
El Rashidun was not unlike another inspired leader, the son of a blacksmith, the champion of the Iranian working man who promised to put ‘oil income on people’s tables’. He like others before him had failed to raise living standards or prevent galloping inflation and unemployment, in spite of vast oil revenues of his country, which alone represented more than 80% of its export earnings.
Few details are known of Umar Rashid’s early life other than the fact he had been remarked by the local Imam, who arranged he be sent to a Koranic school in a larger nearby town. As in all such schools religious studies and classical Arabic were at the centre of the curriculum, followed by Arabic literature and history. At thirteen he was sent to the Lycée in Tizi-Ousou, where at the age of seventeen he obtained the highest marks in the baccalaureate for the region.
Like all young Algerians, Rashid entered the army for his national service at the age of eighteen. He attended officer’s training school with one year at the Egyptian Military Academy in Heliopolis, where he learnt English and discovered the military traditions inherited from the British. His training was completed at the French Ecole de Guerre in Paris where he graduated with brilliant results.
His experience overseas transformed him into a nationalist, proud of the history of his people, the Berbers, and his country Algeria and he dreamed of the rebirth of a glorious Arab Andalusia in North Africa. A brilliant young officer, a fervent Muslim with an unswerving dedication to his men and Pan Arabism, he was propelled to the rank of general, the youngest in the Algerian army. His charisma and mysticism won him the name El Rashidun from his men.
El Rashidun, as most military men, was trained to respect and defend the leaders of the military junta that ruled the country, in spite of the evident corruption of the system, a junta that had uninterruptedly held power since its independence from France. However, when the simmering civil war spread, he found himself unable to condone the atrocities committed with the encouragement of the military government, and by many of his fellow officers against the civilian population.
His sympathies lay with the Islamists, men of God, whom he had always respected as a believer. Approached by anti-governmental resistance groups he provided help and vital information, secretly joining the Popular Islamic Front. It was crystal clear that the government was about to lose control; demonstrations and violence in Kabylie had spread to other parts of the country. As the daily death toll rose, he had li
ttle choice but to openly side with the rebels, finally taking control of the PIF Revolutionary Army. His military leadership and outstanding organisational skills enabled the Islamists to quickly occupy most of the country with the exception of the capital and a few coastal cities.
Following his election to the Front’s governing council he became one its leading figures. Then after the movement’s religious leader was shot down by a government commando, the Front called on the population of Algiers to rise; the military junta that had governed the country for over forty years fell, the army siding with El Rashidun, who arrived triumphantly in Algiers, not unlike Fidel Castro’s arrival in Havana in 1959, declaring a Popular Islamic Government, promising elections, reforms, economic progress and justice for all those who were willing to work to rebuild their country and its future.
The religious leaders were skilfully outmanoeuvred and given a purely religious role, as he imposed his will, rapidly emerging as supreme leader, proclaiming a Caliphate, not as a religious leader, but one whose duty was to uphold peace and justice in the nation. In this way he united traditionalist and religious factions, the Arab and Berber peoples, the army and civil authority, mediating between the diverse political parties, promising the restoration of the past glories of the historic Caliphate.
Rashidun’s promise to his country and North Africa was to extend the Caliphate