The history of Spain’s fight against terrorism contains chapters that remain deeply controversial and painful. One of the darkest periods was the actions of the so-called Antiterrorist Liberation Groups (GAL), who in the 1980s carried out executions not only of ETA members, but also of French citizens with no links to the Basque underground. From 1983 to 1987, dozens of people were killed on French soil, and a third of them were ordinary French citizens who simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Although the topic of GAL is discussed more openly in Spain, in France these tragedies remain largely in the shadows. For years, victims’ families received neither support nor answers from the authorities. As far as French institutions are concerned, these victims almost don’t exist, and all attempts to seek justice meet with a wall of silence.
Forgotten and silenced: why does France refuse to acknowledge its own victims?
The reasons behind this attitude to the memory of the victims are rooted in France’s policies of that era. Official Paris viewed ETA as solely a Spanish problem and preferred to turn a blind eye to everything happening on French soil. Even when their own citizens were killed by GAL operations, authorities rarely rushed to investigate. In some instances, French police themselves were suspected of collaborating with Spanish structures, which made matters even murkier and more painful for the victims’ families.
As a result, many relatives of the victims faced distrust and even suspicion. They were denied support, and their stories never made it into official records. In contrast to Spain, where at least some investigations were carried out and verdicts issued, France has not seen a single serious trial on these cases.
Spanish initiatives and efforts to restore justice
In recent years, Spanish organizations focused on the memory of terrorism victims have begun to pay more attention to French families affected by GAL’s actions. Exhibitions and commemorative events have been held in San Sebastián and Biarritz, where the names of forgotten victims are remembered. For many relatives, this was the first time their grief and loss were truly acknowledged.
Nevertheless, even in Spain, most GAL crimes remain unsolved. The trials that did take place only addressed isolated incidents and did not implicate the entire chain of those involved. Senior officials convicted of organizing killings spent very little time in prison, and some still publicly justify their actions, deepening the pain for victims’ families.
A memory they don’t want to hear
Four decades have passed, yet for many families the question of justice remains unanswered. They demand not only that the crimes be acknowledged, but also an honest account of what happened. In Spain, their voices are increasingly being heard, albeit not always willingly. In France, however, the topic of GAL remains sensitive, with officials still preferring to avoid public discussion.
As long as the memory of the victims relies on enthusiasts and certain organizations rather than government policy, hopes for true justice remain elusive. Yet stories like these serve as a reminder that behind political decisions lie real human lives—and forgetting this is dangerous for any society.
