France: Judge Wants Murdered Trappists Exhumed

The background of  the murder of Trappists in Algeria  1996 are still unclear today.  The corpses were never found, rather only their decapitated heads.

[Kathnet] The background of the murder of Trappists in Algeria in 1996 and seven murdered Franciscans has a judge wanting to exume their skulls.  According to the story by the newspaper >>Marianne<< [Friday].  Judge Marc Trevidic has made a corresponding inquiry to authorities in Algeria.  A DNA-analysis is required, in order to identify the victims.  The judge has already received the approval of family members in October.

The motives for the murder of the Trappists is still unclear. The corpses were never found, rather only the decapitated heads. A French General testified in 2009 that the Algerian Military accidentally killed the monks by a helicopter attack on an Islamic position. The Algerians disagree however, that the Islamic movement GIA had beheaded the religions after a month of captivity.

The case was treated in  2010 film by French director, Xavier Beauvois in his film "Of Men and Gods".  The work received numerous prizes, among others the film festival in Cannes.

See the German language trailer, here...