Her sister was a feminist activist as well and until 1995 president of "Tiɣri n tameṭṭut" (Women in Protest); she was killed by Muslim fundamentalists on February 15, 1995, during the Algerian Civil War (1991–2002).

[2][3] The civil war divided the feminists into supporters of the Algerian army, and on the other hand those who opposed the cruelty of the central power.

Meanwhile, she holds a critical stand to the development of the feminist movement in former days, which she tries to catch in her films frequently.

[2][4][5] In 2006 Djahnine returned to Algeria, where she looked back to the death of her sister and the political situation of that moment.

[2] In 2012 she was honored with a Prince Claus Award for her part in reviving Algerian cinema and for "creating sensitive, challenging and insightful documentaries on contemporary realities.