Between Impulses of Colonial Hegemony and Respect for Legal Principles: France and the Implementation of Collective Fines Against Muslim Indigenous Population in Algeria, 1844–1897

Abstract: Starting in 1844, French colonial authorities in Algeria imposed collective fines on Muslim populations, initially as a wartime measure and later as a tool for controlling dissent against the colonial regime. Although colonial authorities justified these fines as a means to enhance order, they unfairly impacted Muslim communities, deepening social divides and fostering anti-colonial sentiments. This study reviews the penal system’s failures from legal and moral perspectives, highlighting its contradictions with French legal principles and its role in exacerbating colonial injustice. It also explores the legacy of these policies, emphasizing the importance of studying historical injustices to achieve a more just future.