Cherif Gousmi was succeeded by Djamel Zitouni who became Groupe Islamique Armé head on October 27 , 1994 . Zitouni , 30-year-old son of a poultry merchant had very limited religious education but was adept at killing French citizens . Zitouni extended the GIA 's attacks on civilians to French soil , beginning with the hijacking of Air France Flight 8969 at the end of December 1994 and continuing with several bombings and attempted bombings throughout 1995 . In Algeria itself , he continued likewise , with car bombs , assassinations of musicians , sportsmen , and unveiled women as well as the usual victims . In February 1995 it issued a communique ordering that " for every pure Muslim woman arrested by the government , an apostate 's wife would be executed . " Non GIA Islamists such as Muslim Brotherhood members and Djazarist were condemned as Godless and ordered to repent " according to a precise procedure " . Even at this stage , the seemingly counterproductive nature of many of its attacks led to speculation ( encouraged by FIS members abroad ) that the group had been infiltrated by Algerian secret services
Air France Flight 8969
Air France Flight 8969
Djamel Zitouni