Ahmed Manseri faces judicial harassment for meeting with UN experts
Name(s):
Ahmed Manseri
Status:
Free
Nationality:
Algerian
Ahmed Manseri is an Algerian human rights defender and head of the Tiaret section of the now dissolved Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LADDH). Due to his human rights work in Algeria, particularly following his meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in 2023, he was subjected to arrest and judicial harassment, which ultimately forced to leave the country and seek protection abroad.
Ahmed Manseri is an Algerian human rights defender and head of the Tiaret section of the now-dissolved Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LADDH).
On September 17, 2023, Manseri met with the former UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Clément Voule, who was conducting an official visit to Algeria. On the same day, Manseri published on Facebook a picture of himself with the Special Rapporteur. Later, on September 20, 2023, he posted again about the meeting, noting that they had discussed the dissolution of the LADDH, the shrinking civic space in Algeria, and the authorities’ increasing control over independent actors.
On October 8, 2023, Manseri was arrested and taken for interrogation to the Daïra police station in Ksar Chellala. During the arrest, police used excessive force, dislocating his wife’s shoulder. He was later transferred from the police station to the Urban Security Center of the Shalala Palace and was questioned about his meeting with UN Special Rapporteur Clément Voule and accused of sharing sensitive information. Following his arrest, security forces forcibly entered his home again and seized the phones belonging to him, his wife and his son, as well as their internet router, bank cheques, various documents, and books related to activism and freedoms.
On October 10, 2023, the Court of Algiers upheld a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 100,000 dinars against Manseri, initially issued by the Sidi M’hamed court of first instance on November 3, 2022. He was convicted of “inciting an unarmed gathering” and “disseminating false information likely to undermine public order and public safety” on the basis of the content of a previous Facebook post.
In a separate case, on October 11, 2023, Manseri was presented before the Prosecutor of the Ksar Chellala court and charged with “belonging to a terrorist organisation”, “public dissemination and deliberate promotion on social media of misleading news and information likely to undermine public security”, and “inciting an unarmed gathering”. On the same day, the investigative judge ordered that he be remanded in custody.
On October 30, 2023, UN human rights experts issued a communication to the Algerian authorities, expressing concern over Manseri’s arrest and detention following his meeting with Clément Voule.
Between November 26 and December 5, 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, conducted an official visit to Algeria, during which she visited Manseri in prison.
During his detention, Manseri was questioned three times by the investigative judge as part of the judicial investigation. On December 24, 2023, during the third hearing, the judge questioned him about statements he had made on El Magharibia TV concerning the visit of Special Rapporteur Clément Voule. The judge also interrogated him about the prison visit he had received from Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor.
On December 25, 2023, following the judicial investigation, the facts of Manseri’s case were reclassified as “inciting an unarmed gathering”, “acts likely to undermine the integrity of national territory”, and “public dissemination and deliberate promotion on social media of misleading news and information likely to undermine public security”. The “terrorism” charge under article 87 bis of the Penal Code was dropped and the case was therefore referred to the misdemeanour court.
On January 14, 2024, Manseri was found guilty by the tribunal of Ksar Chellala and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and a three-month suspended sentence. He was released the same day.
Manseri appealed the decision. During the proceedings, the judge questioned him once more about his meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
On April 15, 2024, MENA Rights Group referred Manseri’s case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.
In June 2024, Manseri left Algeria and sought international protection abroad by submitting an asylum application to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
On September 22, 2024, several members of Manseri’s family were arrested by Algerian security services in an attempt to locate him. His parents, brothers, and other relatives were detained and questioned about his whereabouts before being released later the same day.
On September 26, 2024, the UN Secretary-General raised the case in the 2024 report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the UN in the field of human rights.
On April 25, 2025, MENA Rights Group referred Manseri’s case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.
On September 24, 2025, the UN Secretary-General raised the case in the 2025 report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the UN in the field of human rights.
On April 15, 2026, MENA Rights Group referred his case for a third time to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.
| Name(s): |
Ahmed Manseri
|
| Status: |
Free
|
| Nationality: |
Algerian
|
Ahmed Manseri is an Algerian human rights defender and head of the Tiaret section of the now-dissolved Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LADDH).
On September 17, 2023, Manseri met with the former UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Clément Voule, who was conducting an official visit to Algeria. On the same day, Manseri published on Facebook a picture of himself with the Special Rapporteur. Later, on September 20, 2023, he posted again about the meeting, noting that they had discussed the dissolution of the LADDH, the shrinking civic space in Algeria, and the authorities’ increasing control over independent actors.
On October 8, 2023, Manseri was arrested and taken for interrogation to the Daïra police station in Ksar Chellala. During the arrest, police used excessive force, dislocating his wife’s shoulder. He was later transferred from the police station to the Urban Security Center of the Shalala Palace and was questioned about his meeting with UN Special Rapporteur Clément Voule and accused of sharing sensitive information. Following his arrest, security forces forcibly entered his home again and seized the phones belonging to him, his wife and his son, as well as their internet router, bank cheques, various documents, and books related to activism and freedoms.
On October 10, 2023, the Court of Algiers upheld a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 100,000 dinars against Manseri, initially issued by the Sidi M’hamed court of first instance on November 3, 2022. He was convicted of “inciting an unarmed gathering” and “disseminating false information likely to undermine public order and public safety” on the basis of the content of a previous Facebook post.
In a separate case, on October 11, 2023, Manseri was presented before the Prosecutor of the Ksar Chellala court and charged with “belonging to a terrorist organisation”, “public dissemination and deliberate promotion on social media of misleading news and information likely to undermine public security”, and “inciting an unarmed gathering”. On the same day, the investigative judge ordered that he be remanded in custody.
On October 30, 2023, UN human rights experts issued a communication to the Algerian authorities, expressing concern over Manseri’s arrest and detention following his meeting with Clément Voule.
Between November 26 and December 5, 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, conducted an official visit to Algeria, during which she visited Manseri in prison.
During his detention, Manseri was questioned three times by the investigative judge as part of the judicial investigation. On December 24, 2023, during the third hearing, the judge questioned him about statements he had made on El Magharibia TV concerning the visit of Special Rapporteur Clément Voule. The judge also interrogated him about the prison visit he had received from Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor.
On December 25, 2023, following the judicial investigation, the facts of Manseri’s case were reclassified as “inciting an unarmed gathering”, “acts likely to undermine the integrity of national territory”, and “public dissemination and deliberate promotion on social media of misleading news and information likely to undermine public security”. The “terrorism” charge under article 87 bis of the Penal Code was dropped and the case was therefore referred to the misdemeanour court.
On January 14, 2024, Manseri was found guilty by the tribunal of Ksar Chellala and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and a three-month suspended sentence. He was released the same day.
Manseri appealed the decision. During the proceedings, the judge questioned him once more about his meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
On April 15, 2024, MENA Rights Group referred Manseri’s case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.
In June 2024, Manseri left Algeria and sought international protection abroad by submitting an asylum application to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
On September 22, 2024, several members of Manseri’s family were arrested by Algerian security services in an attempt to locate him. His parents, brothers, and other relatives were detained and questioned about his whereabouts before being released later the same day.
On September 26, 2024, the UN Secretary-General raised the case in the 2024 report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the UN in the field of human rights.
On April 25, 2025, MENA Rights Group referred Manseri’s case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.
On September 24, 2025, the UN Secretary-General raised the case in the 2025 report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the UN in the field of human rights.
On April 15, 2026, MENA Rights Group referred his case for a third time to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.
