Turks in Algeria
The Turks in Algeria, also commonly referred to as Algerian Turks, Algerian-Turkish Algero-Turkish and Turkish-Algerians are ethnic Turkish descendants who, alongside the Arabs and Berbers, constitute an admixture to Algeria's population. During Ottoman rule, Turkish settlers began to migrate to the region predominately from Anatolia. A significant number of Turks intermarried with the native population, and the male offspring of these marriages were referred to as Kouloughlis due to their mixed Turkish and central Maghrebi heritage. However, in general, intermarriage was discouraged, in order to preserve the "Turkishness" of the community. Consequently, the terms "Turks" and "Kouloughlis" have traditionally been used to distinguish between those of full and partial Turkish ancestry.
In the late nineteenth century the French colonisers in North Africa classified the populations under their rule as "Arab" and "Berber", despite the fact that these countries had diverse populations, which were also composed of ethnic Turks and Kouloughlis. According to the U.S. Department of State "Algeria's population, a mixture of Arab, Berber, and Turkish in origin"; whilst Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs has reported that the demographics of Algeria includes a "strong Turkish admixture".
Thus, today, numerous estimates suggest that Algerians of Turkish descent still represent 5% to 25% of the country's population. Since the Ottoman era, the Turks settled mostly in the coastal regions of Algeria and Turkish descendants continue to live in the big cities today. Moreover, Turkish descended families also continue to practice the Hanafi school of Islam and many retain their Turkish-origin surnames—which mostly express a provenance or ethnic Turkish origin from Anatolia. The Turkish minority have formed the Association des Turcs algériens to promote their culture.
History
Ottoman era (1515–1830)
The foundation of Ottoman Algeria was directly linked to the establishment of the Ottoman province of the Maghreb at the beginning of the 16th century. At the time, fearing that their city would fall into Spanish hands, the inhabitants of Algiers called upon Ottoman corsairs for help. Headed by Oruç Reis and his brother Hayreddin Barbarossa, they took over the rule of the city and started to expand their territory into the surrounding areas. Sultan Selim I agreed to assume control of the Maghreb regions ruled by Hayreddin as a province, granting the rank of governor-general to Hayreddin. In addition, the Sultan sent 2,000 janissaries, accompanied by about 4,000 volunteers to the newly established Ottoman province of the Maghreb, whose capital was to be the city of Algiers. These Turks, mainly from Anatolia, called each other "yoldaş" and called their sons born of unions with local women "Kuloğlu’s", implying that they considered their children's status as that of the Sultan's servants. Likewise, to indicate in the registers that a certain person is an offspring of a Turk and a local woman, the note "ibn al-turki" was added to his name.The exceptionally high number of Turks greatly affected the character of the city of Algiers, and that of the province at large. In 1587, the province was divided into three different provinces, which were established where the modern states of Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, were to emerge. Each of these provinces was headed by a Pasha sent from Constantinople for a three-year term. The division of the Maghreb launched the process that led eventually to the janissary corps' rule over the province. From the end of the 16th century, Algiers's Ottoman elite chose to emphasize its Turkish identity and nurture its Turkish character to a point at which it became an ideology. By so doing, the Algerian province took a different path from that of its neighboring provinces, where local-Ottoman elites were to emerge. The aim of nurturing the elite's Turkishness was twofold: it limited the number of the privileged group while demonstrating the group's loyalty to the Sultan. By the 18th century there was 50,000 janissaries concentrated in the city of Algiers alone.
The lifestyle, language, religion, and area of origin of the Ottoman elite's members created remarkable differences between the Algerian Ottoman elite and the indigenous population. For example, members of the elite adhered to Hanafi law while the rest of the population subscribed to the Maliki school. Most of the elites originated from non-Arab regions of the Empire. Furthermore, most members of the elite spoke Ottoman Turkish while the local population spoke Algerian Arabic and even differed from the rest of the population in their dress.
Recruiting the military-administrative elite
From its establishment, the military-administrative elite worked to reinvigorate itself by enlisting volunteers from non-Arab regions of the Ottoman Empire, mainly from Anatolia. Hence, local recruiting of Arabs was almost unheard of and during the 18th century a more or less permanent network of recruiting officers was kept in some coastal Anatolian cities and on some of the islands of the Aegean Sea. The recruitment policy was therefore one of the means employed to perpetuate the Turkishness of the Ottoman elite and was practiced until the fall of the province in 1830.Marriages to local women and the Kuloğlus
During the 18th century, the militia practiced a restrictive policy on marriages between its members and local women. A married soldier would lose his right of residence in one of the city's eight barracks and the daily ration of bread to which he was entitled. He would also lose his right to purchase a variety of products at a preferential price. Nonetheless, the militia's marriage policy made clear distinctions among holders of different ranks: the higher the rank, the more acceptable the marriage of its holder. This policy can be understood as part of the Ottoman elite's effort to perpetuate its Turkishness and to maintain its segregation from the rest of the population. Furthermore, the militia's marriage policy, in part, emerged from fear of an increase in the number of the kuloğlus.The kuloğlu's refers to the male offspring of members of the Ottoman elite and the local Algerian women. Due to their link to the local Algerian population via his maternal family, the kuloğlus' loyalty to the Ottoman elite was suspected because of the fear that they might develop another loyalty; they were therefore considered a potential danger to the elite. However, the son of a non-local woman, herself an "outsider" in the local population, represented no such danger to the Ottoman elite. Therefore, the Algerian Ottoman elite had a clear policy dictating the perpetuation of its character as a special social group separated from the local population.
Nonetheless, John Douglas Ruedy points out that the kuloğlu's also sought to protect their Turkishness:
In the neighbouring province of Tunisia, the maintenance of the Turkishness of the ruling group was not insisted upon, and the kuloğlus could reach the highest ranks of government. However, the janissary corps had lost its supremacy first to the Muradid dynasty, and then to the Husainid Dynasty. The Tunisian situation partly explains the continuation of the Algerian janissary corps' recruitment policy and the manifest will to distance the kuloğlus from the real centres of power. Nonetheless, high-ranking kuloğlus were in the service of the ocak, in military and in administrative capacities, occupying posts explicitly considered out of bounds for them; although there were no kuloğlus who was dey during the 18th century, this seems to be the only exception.
French era (1830–1962)
Once Algeria came under French colonial rule in 1830, approximately 10,000 Turks were expelled and shipped off to Smyrna; moreover, many Turks fled to other regions of the Ottoman realms, particularly to Palestine, Syria, Arabia, and Egypt. Nonetheless, by 1832, many Algerian-Turkish descended families, who had not left Algeria, joined a coalition with Emir Abdelkader in order to forge the beginning of a powerful resistance movement against French colonial rule.In 1926 Messali Hadj - an Algerian of Turkish origin - founded the first modern nationalist movement for Algerian independence. Another prominent Algerian nationalist leader of Turkish origin was Ahmed Tewfik El Madani who, as the leader of the Association of Algerian Muslim Ulema, continued to influence Algerian nationalism. Ahmed Tewfik was also a historian who argued that the Turkish era in Algeria was defamed by European historians and provided the French with convincing arguments to justify their colonial actions. He maintained that the Ottoman Turks had unified Algeria's territory and saved the country from the grip of Christianity as well as from the fate of Muslim Spain. Furthermore, he stated that the Turks who settled in Algeria were "perfection and nobility itself" and emphasised their contributions to Algerian society, such as the establishment of religious endowments, mosques and waterworks. By 1956 the Reformist Ulema, under the leadership of Ahmed Tewfik, joined the Algerian National Liberation Front to fight for Algerian independence.
Algerian Republican era (1962–present)
In 2011 Algerian journalist Mustafa Dala reported in the "Echorouk El Yawmi" that Algerians of Turkish origin - particularly the youth - are seeking to revive the Turkish language in Algeria. In his investigation, Dala found that the Turkish minority are already distinguishable by their different customs, especially in regards to clothes and foods, as well as by their Turkish surnames. However, he states that the revival of the Turkish language is a sign of the minority restoring their identity and highlights the "new Ottomans" in Algeria.Common surnames used by the Turkish minority
By provenance
The following list are examples of Turkish origin surnames which express an ethnic and provenance origin from Eastern Thrace and Anatolia - regions which today form the modern borders of the Republic of Turkey:| Surname used in Algeria | Turkish | English translation |
| Baghlali | Bağlılı | from Bağlı |
| Bayasli | Payaslı | from Payas |
| Benkasdali Benkazdali | Ben Kazdağılı | I am from Kazdağı |
| Benmarchali | Ben Maraşlı | I am from Maraş |
| Benterki | Ben Türk | I am Turk/Turkish |
| Bentiurki Benturki | Ben Türk | I am Turk/Turkish |
| Ben Turkia Ben Turkiya | Ben Türkiye | I am Turkey |
| Bersali Borsali Borsari Borsla | Bursalı | from Bursa |
| Boubiasli | Payaslı | from Payas |
| Chatli | Çatlı | from Çat |
| Chilali | Şileli | from Şileli |
| Cholli | Çullu | from Çullu |
| Coulourli | Kuloğlu | Kouloughli |
| Dengezli Denizli Denzeli | Denizli | from Denizli |
| Dernali | Edirneli | from Edirne |
| Djabali | Cebali | from Cebali |
| Djeghdali | Çağataylı | Chagatai |
| Djitli | Çitli | from Çit |
| Douali | Develi | from Develi |
| Guellati | Galatalı | from Galata |
| Kamen | Kaman | Kaman |
| Karabaghli | Karabağlı | from Karabağ |
| Karadaniz | Karadeniz | from the Black Sea region |
| Karaman | Karaman | from Karaman |
| Kasdali Kasdarli | Kazdağılı | from Kazdağı |
| Kaya Kayali | Kayalı | from Kaya |
| Kebzili | Gebzeli | from Gebze |
| Keicerli | Kayserili | from Kayseri |
| Kermeli | Kermeli | from the Gulf of Kerme |
| Kezdali | Kazdağılı | from Kazdağı |
| Kissarli Kisserli | Kayserili | from Kayseri |
| Korghlu Korglu Koroghli Korogli | Kuloğlu | Kouloughli |
| Koudjali Kouddjali | Kocaeli | from Kocaeli |
| Koulali | Kulalı | from Kulalı |
| Kouloughli Koulougli Kouroughli Kouroughlou | Kuloğlu | A Kouloughli |
| Kozlou | Kozlu | from Kozlu |
| Manamani Manemeni Manemenni | Menemenli | from Menemen |
| Mansali | Manisalı | from Manisa |
| Meglali | Muğlalı | from Muğla |
| Merchali Mersali | Maraşlı | from Maraş |
| Osmane Othmani | Osman Osmanlı | Ottoman |
| Ould Zemirli Ould Zmirli | İzmirli | from Izmir |
| Rizeli | Rizeli | from Rize |
| Romeili Roumili | Rumeli | from Rumelia |
| Sanderli | Çandarli | from Çandarlı |
| Sandjak Sangaq | Sancak | from sanjak |
| Satli | Çatlı | from Çat |
| Sekelli | İskeleli | from Iskele |
| Sekli | Sekeli | from Seke |
| Skoudarli | Üsküdarlı | from Üsküdar |
| Stamboul Stambouli | İstanbulu | from Istanbul |
| Tchambaz | Cambaz | :tr:Cambaz, Yenice|Cambaz |
| Takarli | Taraklı | from Taraklı |
| Tchanderli Tchenderli | Çandarlı | from Çandarlı |
| Tekali | Tekeeli | from Tekeeli |
| Terki Terqui | Türki | Turkish |
| Terkman Terkmani | Türkmenli | Turkmen |
| Torki | Türk | Turkish |
| Tourki Tourquie Turki | Türk | Turk/Turkish |
| Yarmali | Yarmalı | from Yarma |
| Zemerli Zemirli Zmerli Zmirli | İzmirli | from Izmir |
| Zemir Zmir | İzmir | Izmir |
The following list are examples of Turkish origin surnames which express a provenance settlement of Turkish families in regions of Algeria:
| Surname used in Algeria | Turkish | Meaning in English |
| Tlemsanili Tilimsani | Tilimsanılı | from Tlemcen |
The following list are examples of Turkish origin surnames traditionally used by Turkish families in Constantine:
Acheuk-Youcef, Ali Khodja, Bachtarzi, Benabdallah Khodja, Benelmadjat, Bestandji, Bendali Braham, Bentchakar, Bensakelbordj, Bentchikou, Khaznadar, Salah Bey, Tchanderli Braham.
By occupation
The following list are examples of some Turkish origin surnames which express the traditional occupation of Turkish families which settled in Algeria:| Surname used in Algeria | Turkish | English translation |
| Agha | ağa | agha |
| Ahtchi | ahçı, aşçı | cook, keeper of restaurant |
| Anberdji | ambarcı | storekeeper |
| Aoulak | ulak | messenger, courier |
| Arbadji | arabacı | driver |
| Atchi | atçı | horse breeder |
| Bacha | paşa | a pasha |
| Bachagha | başağa | head agha |
| Bachchaouch | başçavuş | sergeant major |
| Bachesais | başseyis | head stableman |
| Bachtaftar | başdefterdar | treasurer |
| Bachtarzi | baş terzi | chief tailor |
| Bachtoubdji | baştopçu | chief cannoneer, artilleryman |
| Baldji | balcı | maker or seller of honey |
| Bazarbacha Bazarbarchi | pazarbaşı | head of bazaar |
| Benabadji | ben abacı | maker or seller of garments |
| Benchauch | ben çavuş | sergeant |
| Benchoubane | ben çoban | shepherd |
| Bendamardji | ben demirci | metalworker |
| Bendali | ben deli | deli |
| Benlagha | ben ağa | agha |
| Benstaali | ben usta | master, workman, craftsman |
| Bentobdji | ben topçu | cannoneer |
| Bestandji Bostandji | bostancı | bostandji |
| Bouchakdji | bıçakçı | cutler |
| Boudjakdji | ocakçı | chimney sweep |
| Boyagi | boyacı | painter |
| Chalabi Challabi | çelebi | educated person, gentlemen |
| Chaouche | çavuş | sergeant |
| Chembaz Chembazi | cambaz | acrobat |
| Damardji Damerdji | demirci | metalworker |
| Debladji | tavlacı | stable boy or backgammon player |
| Dey | dayı | officer or maternal uncle |
| Djadouadji | kahveci | coffee maker or seller |
| Djaidji | çaycı | tea seller |
| Doumandji | dümenci | helmsman |
| Doumardji | tımarcı | stableman |
| Dumangi | dümenci | helmsman |
| Dumargi | tımarcı | stableman |
| Fenardji | fenerci | lighthouse keeper |
| Fernakdji | fırıncı | baker |
| Hazerchi | hazırcı | seller of ready-made clothing |
| Kahouadji | kahveci | café owner or coffee maker/grower |
| Kalaidji | kalaycı | tinner |
| Kaouadji | kahveci | café owner or coffee maker/grower |
| Kasbadji | kasapcı | butcher |
| Kassab | Kasap | butcher |
| Kaznadji | hazinedar | keeper of a treasury |
| Kebabdji | kebapçı | kebab seller |
| Kehouadji | kahveci | café owner or coffee maker/grower |
| Ketrandji | katrancı | tar seller |
| Khandji | hancı | innkeeper |
| Khaznadar | hazinedar | keeper of a treasury |
| Khaznadji | hazinedar | keeper of a treasury |
| Khedmadji | hizmetçi | maid, helper |
| Khodja Khoudja | hoca | teacher |
| Louldji | lüleci | maker or seller of pipes |
| Koumdadji | komando | commando |
| Moumdji Moumedji | mumcu | candle maker |
| Ouldchakmadji | çakmakçı | maker or seller of flints/ maker or repairer of flintlock guns |
| Nefradji | nüfreci | prepares amulets |
| Pacha | paşa | a pasha |
| Rabadji | arabacı | driver |
| Rais | reis | chief, leader |
| Saboudji Saboundji | sabuncu | maker or seller of soap |
| Selmadji | silmeci | cleaner or to measure |
| Serkadji | sirkeci | maker or seller of vinegar |
| Slahdji | silahçı | gunsmith |
| Staali | usta | master, workman, craftsman |
| Tchambaz | cambaz | acrobat |
Other surnames
| Surname used in Algeria | Turkish | English translation |
| Arslan | aslan | a lion |
| Arzouli | arzulu | desirous, ambitious |
| Baba Babali | baba | a father |
| Badji | bacı | elder sister |
| Bektach | bektaş | member of the Bektashi Order |
| Belbey | bey | mister, gentlemen |
| Belbiaz | beyaz | white |
| Benchicha | ben şişe | a bottle |
| Benhadji | ben hacı | a Hadji |
| Benkara | ben kara | dark |
| Bensari | ben sarı | blonde |
| Bentobal Bentobbal | ben topal | crippled |
| Bermak | parmak | finger |
| Beiram Biram | bayram | holiday, festival |
| Beyaz | beyaz | white |
| Bougara Boulkara | bu kara | dark |
| Boukendjakdji | kancık | mean |
| Caliqus | çalıkuşu | goldcrest |
| Chalabi Challabi | çelebi | educated person, gentlemen |
| Chelbi | çelebi | educated person, gentlemen |
| Cherouk | çürük | rotten |
| Dali Dalibey Dalisaus | deli | brave, crazy |
| Damir | demir | metal |
| Daouadji | davacı | litigant |
| Deramchi | diremci | currency |
| Djabali | çelebi | educated person, gentlemen |
| Doumaz | duymaz | deaf |
| Eski | eski | old |
| Gaba | kaba | rough, heavy |
| Goutchouk | küçük | small, little |
| Gueddjali | gacal | domestic |
| Guendez | gündüz | daytime |
| Guermezli | görmezli | blind |
| Guertali | kartal | eagle |
| Hadji | hacı | Hadji |
| Hidouk | haydut | bandit |
| Ioldach | yoldaş | companion, comrade |
| Kara | kara | dark |
| Karabadji | kara bacı | dark sister |
| Kardache | kardeş | brother |
| Karkach | karakaş | dark eyebrows |
| Kermaz | görmez | blind |
| Kerroudji | kurucu | founder, builder, veteran |
| Kertali | kartal | eagle |
| Koutchouk | küçük | small, little |
| Lalali Lalili | laleli | tulip |
| Maldji | malcı | cattle producer |
| Mestandji | mestan | drunk |
| Oldach | yoldaş | companion, comrade |
| Oualan | oğlan | boy |
| Ouksel | yüksel | to succeed, achieve |
| Ourak | orak | sickle |
| Salakdji | salakça | silly |
| Salaouatchi Salouatchi | salavatçaı | prayer |
| Sari | sarı | yellow or blond |
| Sarmachek | sarmaşık | vine |
| Sersar Sersoub | serseri | layabout, vagrant |
| Tache | taş | stone, pebble |
| Tarakli | taraklı | having a comb, crested |
| Tchalabi | çelebi | educated person, gentlemen |
| Tchalikouche | çalıkuşu | goldcrest |
| Tenbel | tembel | lazy |
| Tobal Toubal | topal | cripple |
| Yataghan Yataghen | yatağan | yatagan |
| Yazli | yazılı | written |
| Yekkachedji | yakışmak | to suit |
| Yesli | yaslı | mourning |
| Yoldas | yoldaş | companion, comrade |
Culture
The Algerian Turks generally take pride in their Ottoman-Turkish heritage but also have integrated successfully into Algerian society. Their identity is based on their ethnic Turkish roots and links to mainland Turkey but also to the customs, language, and local culture of Algeria. Due to the three centuries of Turkish rule in Algeria, today many cultural, architectural, as well as musical elements of Algeria are of Turkish origin or influence.Language
During the Ottoman era, the Ottoman Turkish language was the official governing language in the region, and the Turkish language was spoken mostly by the Algerian Turkish community. However, today most Algerian Turks speak the Arabic language as their mother tongue. Nonetheless, the legacy of the Turkish language is still apparent and has influenced many words and vocabulary in Algeria. An estimated 634 Turkish words are still used in Algeria today. Therefore, in Algerian Arabic it is possible for a single sentence to include an Arabic subject, a French verb, and for the predicate to be in Berber or Turkish.Moreover, families of Turkish origin have retained their Turkish family surnames; common names include Barbaros, Hayreddin, Osmanî, Stambouli, Torki, Turki, and Uluçali; job titles or functions have also become family names within the Algerian-Turkish community.
was built in 1797 by the Ottoman Turks.
Religion
The Ottoman Turks brought the teaching of the Hanafi law of Sunni Islam to Algeria; consequently, their lifestyle created remarkable differences between the Ottoman Turks and the indigenous population because the ethnic Arabs and Berbers practiced the Maliki school.Today, the Hanafi school is still practiced among the Turkish descended families. Moreover, the Ottoman mosques in Algeria - which are still used by the Turkish minority - are distinguishable by their octagonal minarets which were built in accordance with the traditions of the Hanafi rite.
Cuisine
Today the Turkish heritage in Algeria is most notably present in their cuisine which they have introduced to Algeria.Demographics
Population
The Turkish minority is estimated to form between 5% to 25% of Algeria's total population, the latter including those of partial Turkish origin.In 1993 the Turkish scholar Prof. Dr. Metin Akar estimated that there was 1 million Turks living in Algeria. By 2008 a country report of Algeria by the Oxford Business Group stated that 5% of Algeria's 34.8 million inhabitants were of Turkish descent. In the same year, a report by the Turkish Embassy in Algeria stated that there was between 600,000-700,000 people of Turkish origin living in Algeria; however, the Turkish Embassy report also stated that according to the French Embassy's records there was around 2 million Turks in Algeria.
In recent years, several Turkish academics, as well as Turkish official reports, have reiterated that estimates of the Turkish population range between 600,000 and 2 million. However, a 2010 report published by the Directorate General for Strategy Development points out that these estimates are likely to be low because 1 million Turks migrated and settled in Algeria throughout the 315 years of Ottoman rule. Moreover, the report suggests that due to intermarriages with the local population, 30% of Algeria's population was of Turkish origin in the eighteenth century. In 1953 the Turkish scholar Dr. Sabri Hizmetli claimed that people of Turkish origin still made up 25% of Algeria's population.
By 2013 the American historian Dr. Niki Gamm argued that the total population of Turkish origin remains unclear and that estimates range between 5-10% of Algeria's population of 37 million However, by 2015 the Russian government-controlled news agency Sputnik, citing the 2014 Algerian population statistics, reported that there are 760,000 people of full Turkish origin, whilst those of full and partial Turkish origin account to 9.5 million of Algeria's 38 million inhabitants.
Areas of settlement
Since the Ottoman era, urban society in the coastal cities of Algeria evolved into an ethnic mix of Turks and Kouloughlis as well as other ethnic groups. Thus, the Turks settled mainly in the big cities of Algeria and formed their own Turkish quarters; remnants of these old Turkish quarters are still visible today, such as in Algiers Annaba, Biskra, Bouïra, Médéa, Mostaganem, and Oran. Indeed, today, the descendants of Ottoman-Turkish settlers continue to live in the big cities. In particular, the Turks have traditionally had a strong presence in the Tlemcen Province; alongside the Moors, they continue to make up a significant portion of Tlemcen's population and live within their own sectors of the city.The Turkish minority have traditionally also had notable populations in various other cities and towns; there is an established Turkish community in Arzew, Bougie, Berrouaghia, Cherchell, Constantine, Djidjelli, Mascara, Mazagran Oued Zitoun, and Tebessa. There is also an established community in Kabylie.
Moreover, several suburbs, towns and cities, which have been inhabited by the Turks for centuries, have been named after Ottoman rulers, Turkish families or the Turks in general, including: the Aïn El Turk district in Oran, the town of Aïn Torki in the Aïn Defla Province, the Aïn Turk commune in Bouïra, the town of Bir Kasdali and the Bir Kasd Ali District in the Bordj Bou Arréridj Province, the town of Bougara and the Bougara District located in Blida Province, the suburb of Hussein Dey and the Hussein Dey District in the Algiers Province, as well as the town of Salah Bey and the Salah Bey District in the Sétif Province.
is of Turkish origin. He currently resides in Paris, France.
Diaspora
There are many Algerian Turks who have emigrated to other countries and hence make up part of Algeria's diaspora. Initially, the first wave of migration occurred in 1830 when many Turks were forced to leave the region once the French took control over Algeria; approximately 10,000 were shipped off to Turkey whilst many others migrated to other regions of the Ottoman Empire, including Palestine, Syria, Arabia, and Egypt. Furthermore, some Turkish/Kouloughli families also settled in Morocco.In regards to modern migration, there is a noticeable Algerian community of Turkish descent living in England. Many Algerians attend the Suleymaniye Mosque which is owned by the British-Turkish community. There is also thousands of Algerian Turks living in France. Furthermore, some Algerian Turks have also migrated to other European countries; in particular, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, as well as Canada in North America, are top receiving countries of Algerian citizens.
Organizations and associations
- The Association of Algerian Turks
Notable people
- Patrick Abada, French pole vaulter and Olympian
- Mustapha Adane, painter
- Ghemati Abdelkrim, politician
- Ali Khodja Ali, painter
- Mahieddine Bachtarzi, actor and singer
- Benaouda Hadj Hacène Bachterzi, politician and publicist
- Hacène Benaboura, artist
- Mohamed Bencheneb, writer
- *Rachid Bencheneb, scholar
- *Saadeddine Bencheneb, professor
- **Ali Bencheneb, former Rector of the Académie de Reims
- Lakhdar Ben Cherif, poet
- Dr Mohammed Saleh Bendjelloul, politician
- Slimane Bengui, director of the first French-language Algerian newspaper "El Hack"
- Djelloul Benkalfate educator and socialist
- Benyoucef Benkhedda, politician
- Mustapha Benkhemmar, musician
- Larbi Bensari, musician
- Abdelhalim Bensmaia, scholar
- Abdelhalim Ben Smaya, scholar
- Lakhdar Ben-Tobbal, resistance fighter
- Ahmed Ben-Triki, poet
- Abderrahmane Berrouane, politician
- Ahmed Chaouch, caïd
- Ahmed Bey, the last Bey of Constantine
- Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the President of Algeria
- Leïla Chellabi, writer
- Abdelkrim Dali, musician
- Mustapha Haciane, poet
- Ahmed Ben Messali Hadj, politician
- *Djanina Messali-Benkelfat, writer
- Salim Halali, singer
- Mourad Kaouah, Deputy of Algiers, French politician, and football player
- Ahmed Kara-Ahmed, painter
- Hamdan Khodja, scholar and merchant
- Mohamed-Réda Benabdallah Khodja, artist
- Mustapha Khodja, lieutenant of the National Liberation Army
- Dr. Ben Lerbey, possibly the first Algerian doctor
- Ahmed Tewfik El Madani, politician
- Ahmed Magdy, Algerian-Egyptian actor
- Ibn Hamza al-Maghribi, Ottoman mathematician
- Abdelmalek Mohieddine, officer
- Mustapha Nador, musician
- Hasan Pasha, three-times Beylerbey of the Regency of Algiers
- Mohammed Racim, artist
- Omar Racim, artist and writer
- Omar Benmahmoud Ali Raïs, sportsman
- Hadj Sameer, archaeologist and artist
- Kaddour Sator, politician and lawyer
- Leïla Sebbar, writer
- Mohamed Sfinja, musician
- Chérif Sid-Cara, Doctor and French politician
- Nafissa Sid-Cara, French politician
- Mustapha Skandrani, musician
- Benjamin Stambouli, football player
- Henri Stambouli, football player
- Mustapha Stambouli, politician
- Athmane Tartag, General
- Wassyla Tamzali, writer
- Boualem Titiche, musician
- Mohammed Zmirli, painter
- Malek Bennabi, thinker
- Mahboub Bati, songwriter
- Djamel Chanderli, filmmaker
- Benali Boudghène dit Colonel Lotfi, resistance fighter