On May 21, 1996, seven Trappist monks from the monastery of Tibhirine in Algeria were kidnapped. Their bodies were found two months later, on May 30, 1996. The case remains unsolved, with conflicting theories about whether they were killed by the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) or by the Algerian army.
Françoise Boëgeat, niece of Brother Paul Favre-Miville, one of the victims, was 29 years old when she heard the news of the kidnapping on the radio. She recalls the event vividly, describing the shock and the long wait for news that never came.
The monks had been living in the monastery for years, serving the local community. Their story was later depicted in the 2010 film 'Of Gods and Men,' which brought international attention to their fate.
Despite multiple investigations and trials in France, no definitive conclusion has been reached. The Algerian government maintains that the GIA was responsible, but some evidence suggests possible military involvement.
