French governors repeatedly and publicly prohibited torture in Algeria despite its prevalence

Evidence

In 1949, for instance, Governor-General Naegelen in an official circular ordered: “strong-arm techniques must be absolutely prohibited as a method of investigation. I am determined to punish with the utmost severity not only those members of the public service found guilty of using violence but also their superiors.” In 1955 Mendès-France declared categorically that all “excesses” “must stop everywhere and at once”, and Soustelle during his stewardship issued strict instructions that “every offence against human dignity…be rigorously forbidden”, and in his memoirs he insists that any proven cases of brutality or summary executions “did not rest without punishment”. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 581

Categorization

• XREF: The pattern of official prohibition coexisting with tolerated practice echoes other colonial and counterinsurgency settings. — connects to: French governors repeatedly ordered torture prohibited before the Battle of Algiers; Post-1959 torture in Algeria became a private, unsanctioned practice.; The French Revolution abolished torture outright before Algeria reignited it (+4 more)

Related

• French governors repeatedly ordered torture prohibited before the Battle of Algiers (similarity 0.92)
• The French Revolution abolished torture outright before Algeria reignited it (similarity 0.89)
• Post-1959 torture in Algeria became a private, unsanctioned practice. (similarity 0.89)
• Massu admitted Algerian torture existed but denied it was institutionalized (similarity 0.79)
• Torture became institutionalized in the French army during the Battle of Algiers (similarity 0.79)
• A senior French official recommended institutionalizing torture in 1955 (similarity 0.78)
• The Battle of Algiers exposed torture as a lasting poison for France (similarity 0.78)