Algeria's parliament has passed a law declaring France's colonisation of Algeria a crime. The law also demands France apologise and pay reparations. It criminalises glorifying colonialism, state TV reported. Lawmakers wore Algerian flag scarves and shouted “long live Algeria” as they approved the bill. The law says France holds “legal responsibility” for the tragedies caused and that fair compensation is an “inalienable right” of Algeria and its people. France colonised Algeria from 1830 to 1962. This period saw mass killings, deportations, and a brutal war of independence. Algeria says 1.5 million people died in the war. French historians report lower numbers. French President Emmanuel Macron has called the colonisation a “crime against humanity” but has not apologised. France has not yet responded to this new law. This move comes amid growing global pressure on Western countries to apologise and repay for slavery and colonialism. Algeria is pushing France to return historical artefacts, such as the 16th century bronze cannon, Baba Merzoug, taken from Algiers in 1830 and now kept in France. In 2020, France returned the remains of 24 Algerian fighters from the colonial period. Last month, Algeria hosted African states to demand justice and reparations. Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf said a legal framework would ensure restitution is “neither a gift nor a favour.” Relations between the two countries worsened last year after France backed Morocco's claim over Western Sahara, a disputed territory Algeria opposes. Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front. French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal was recently jailed in Algeria then pardoned, after being accused of undermining national security for questioning borders.