Sid Ahmed Ghozali passed away on the morning of Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in a hospital in Algiers. His death marks the loss of a significant figure in Algerian politics and a steadfast supporter of the Iranian Resistance.
Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), extended her condolences to the people of Algeria and to the esteemed friends and family of Sid Ahmed Ghozali. She highlighted his unwavering support for the Iranian Resistance, stating:
“For many years, even in the most challenging circumstances, Sid Ahmed Ghozali stood resolutely with his brothers and sisters in the PMOI/MEK—whether in the struggle to protect them in Ashraf or in the campaign to remove them from terror lists. His name will forever be etched in the history of the Iranian people.
Mr. Ghozali was a true heir to the legacy and values of the Mujahideen in Algeria’s war of independence. He never wavered in his principles of humanity and ethics, refusing to compromise them for the exigencies of the times or fleeting political interests. Despite overt and covert pressures, he remained steadfast in his defense of the PMOI, consistently emphasizing that their doctrine and democratic interpretation of Islam were not only a solution for Iran but also a guiding light for the Islamic world.”
Breaking Ties with the Iranian Regime
In 1992, Sid Ahmed Ghozali made the decisive move to sever Algeria’s diplomatic ties with the Iranian regime. Reflecting on this decision years later, he acknowledged that restoring relations with Iran prior to that year had been a mistake. He stated:
“I was Prime Minister during the tenure of the late President Mohamed Boudiaf, and he made the decision to cut ties with Iran. Algeria severed relations with the mullahs’ regime in 1992.
We took this step because, despite Algeria’s fraternal stance toward Iran since the outbreak of the Islamic Revolution, we observed its persistent interference in our internal affairs. Iran provided financial, political, and economic support to terrorism. When we realized the threat, we acted decisively. Algeria later made a grave mistake by re-establishing relations with Iran after seven years of estrangement. The late Boudiaf was right in his decision to cut ties with Tehran.”
A Warning Against the Iranian Regime
Ghozali was vocal about the dangers posed by the Iranian regime, characterizing it as the most perilous religious dictatorship of the modern era. He warned:
“The most dangerous religious dictatorship today is the rule of the mullahs in Iran. Their ambition extends beyond their own borders—they seek to dominate all countries in the region. Their chosen method is violence, destabilization, and the systematic weakening of governments to exert control. They do not even attempt to conceal their expansionist agenda.”
At the time, Algeria accused the Iranian regime of financially and militarily supporting the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), exacerbating the country’s security crisis following the suspension of the electoral process in December 1991. The FIS had been on the verge of a sweeping victory in the second round of legislative elections when the decision was made to halt the process.
The decision to sever diplomatic ties between Algeria and Iran followed repeated warnings from Algiers to Tehran. By January 1992, both countries had recalled their ambassadors, responding to Tehran’s condemnation of the election annulment and its subsequent downgrading of diplomatic relations. Normal relations between the two nations were not restored until President Abdelaziz Bouteflika came to power in the late 1990s.
Exposing Tehran’s Influence in Algeria
Ghozali also exposed Iran’s ideological and cultural infiltration into Algerian society. He criticized the Iranian regime for spreading its extremist ideology and introducing foreign practices, stating:
“We later discovered that Iran was operating through covert cells inside Algeria, using the practice of temporary marriages to lure and recruit Algerian youth. More than that, Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran’s Foreign Minister at the time, openly told us: ‘You have allowed Saudi Arabia to promote Wahhabism in your country. Let us also promote Shi’ism.’”
A Champion of Resistance and Integrity
Sid Ahmed Ghozali’s legacy is one of unwavering principles and dedication to justice. His firm stance against the Iranian regime and his commitment to the ideals of freedom and democracy resonate beyond Algeria. His life serves as a testament to the power of conviction in the face of political pressures, and his memory will endure in the hearts of those who strive for justice and resistance against tyranny.
