Detention of Algerian human rights defender Tahar Larbi
Name(s):
Tahar Larbi
Status:
Detained
Year of birth:
1968
Profession:
Human rights defender and environmental activist
Nationality:
Algerian
Date of arrest:
Tahar Larbi is a human rights defender and environmental activist, who was arrested on September 18, 2024 after sharing critical views on social media about the Algerian authorities. He was indicted for offences against national security and sentenced to 15 years in prison. These heavy prison sentences, although reduced on appeal to four years in prison, are directly linked to his peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.
Tahar Larbi, human rights defender and president of the El Abiodh Sidi Cheikh section of the Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH), dissolved in 2022, was arrested on September 18, 2024. He was prosecuted in two separate cases due to critical posts on social networks, notably on the exploitation of natural resources by foreign investors and political repression in Algeria.
The first case concerned several posts shared on social media in 2023, which included non-violent criticism of the Algerian government and certain practices of foreign nationals harmful to the environment. Larbi notably denounced the exploitation of land in the wilaya of El Bayadh by e Qatari nationals for hunting, while the local inhabitants are prohibited from grazing their animals on this land. He compared these agricultural investments to a modern form of colonization of the region. He also shared several publications related to the popular Hirak uprising in 2019, the repression, and accusations of treason that targeted certain Algerian citizens, including political caricatures. On April 9, 2023, Larbi published critical comments about the control of southern El Bayadh by foreign interests, and just two days later, on April 11, 2023, he shared a historical article on the internal conflicts within the National Liberation Front (FLN).
During his interrogation on April 8, 2023 by the judicial police, he denounced the excessive exploitation of the region for the practice of hunting, as well as the systematic marginalisation of local breeders. He also highlighted the lack of necessary infrastructure, such as the construction of wells for livestock, and denounced the policy of forced displacement allowing Gulf nationals to practice hunting in the region.
The second case Larbi was prosecuted for involved three other posts shared on social media. These publications challenged in a humorous manner the legitimacy of the Algerian presidential election of September 7, 2024.
He was presented before the prosecutor on September 18, 2024, and charged with with “insulting the President of the Republic” (article 144 bis of the Penal Code), “damaging the image of the security services” (article 149 bis 21) and “displaying publications harmful to the national interest” (article 96).
On September 26, 2024, he was sentenced at first instance to a cumulative sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of 1.5 million dinars. On November 20, 2024, his sentence was reduced on appeal to four years in prison.
His arrest and conviction in 2024 follows a series of cases directly linked to the exercise of his fundamental rights, in particular his right to freedom of opinion and expression and his right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Larbi has in fact already been the subject of several arrests since 2001 for his activism.
Believing that Larbi's detention is arbitrary as it results from the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression, MENA Rights Group submitted his case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on February 4, 2025.
| Name(s): |
Tahar Larbi
|
| Status: |
Detained
|
| Year of birth: |
1968
|
| Profession: |
Human rights defender and environmental activist
|
| Nationality: |
Algerian
|
| Date of arrest: |
|
Tahar Larbi, human rights defender and president of the El Abiodh Sidi Cheikh section of the Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH), dissolved in 2022, was arrested on September 18, 2024. He was prosecuted in two separate cases due to critical posts on social networks, notably on the exploitation of natural resources by foreign investors and political repression in Algeria.
The first case concerned several posts shared on social media in 2023, which included non-violent criticism of the Algerian government and certain practices of foreign nationals harmful to the environment. Larbi notably denounced the exploitation of land in the wilaya of El Bayadh by e Qatari nationals for hunting, while the local inhabitants are prohibited from grazing their animals on this land. He compared these agricultural investments to a modern form of colonization of the region. He also shared several publications related to the popular Hirak uprising in 2019, the repression, and accusations of treason that targeted certain Algerian citizens, including political caricatures. On April 9, 2023, Larbi published critical comments about the control of southern El Bayadh by foreign interests, and just two days later, on April 11, 2023, he shared a historical article on the internal conflicts within the National Liberation Front (FLN).
During his interrogation on April 8, 2023 by the judicial police, he denounced the excessive exploitation of the region for the practice of hunting, as well as the systematic marginalisation of local breeders. He also highlighted the lack of necessary infrastructure, such as the construction of wells for livestock, and denounced the policy of forced displacement allowing Gulf nationals to practice hunting in the region.
The second case Larbi was prosecuted for involved three other posts shared on social media. These publications challenged in a humorous manner the legitimacy of the Algerian presidential election of September 7, 2024.
He was presented before the prosecutor on September 18, 2024, and charged with with “insulting the President of the Republic” (article 144 bis of the Penal Code), “damaging the image of the security services” (article 149 bis 21) and “displaying publications harmful to the national interest” (article 96).
On September 26, 2024, he was sentenced at first instance to a cumulative sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of 1.5 million dinars. On November 20, 2024, his sentence was reduced on appeal to four years in prison.
His arrest and conviction in 2024 follows a series of cases directly linked to the exercise of his fundamental rights, in particular his right to freedom of opinion and expression and his right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Larbi has in fact already been the subject of several arrests since 2001 for his activism.
Believing that Larbi's detention is arbitrary as it results from the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression, MENA Rights Group submitted his case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on February 4, 2025.