Advocacy / Algeria
Joint statement: truth and justice for the disappeared in Algeria
MENA Rights Group joins 30+ signatories (civil society organisations and relatives of the disappeared) in condemning the Algerian authorities' use of the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation as a means of impunity for those disappeared during the 1990's conflict. Furthermore, we recommend the creation of a Charter for Truth, Peace and Justice.
Universal Periodic Review: how to address the current human rights crisis in Algeria? A civil society perspective
Following the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, Algeria informed the Human Rights Council of its decision to accept 215 out of the 290 recommendations it had received. We call on Algerian authorities to implement these recommendations. We further call on Algeria to reconsider its stance on the recommendations that were merely noted, especially those pertaining to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, the prohibition of torture, counterterrorism and judiciary independence.
HRC 52: Civil society calls on Algeria to put an end to reprisals and release arbitrarily detained individuals
During the adoption of the Algeria Universal Period Review outcomes, Algerian human rights defender Kaddour Chouicha spoke directly to the Human Rights Council on behalf of MENA Rights Group, the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), CIVICUS, Euromed Rights and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. He addressed the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders and civil society organisations.
#NotACrime: Online campaign calls on Algerian authorities to stop their assault on civic space and fundamental freedoms
#NotACrime is an online campaign aiming to draw attention to the ways in which Algerian authorities have increasingly attempted to stifle dissenting voices and independent civil society. Launched by 38 Algerian, regional and international organisations, the campaign will be conducted between 19-28 May on the organisations’ respective social media accounts.
Algeria: Spain forsakes international obligations in appalling refoulement of Algerian whistleblower
A coalition of NGOs strongly condemns the deportation by Spain of Algerian activist Mohamed Benhalima, in the evening of 24 March 2022, despite the risks of torture and serious human rights violations he faces in Algeria, and therefore in blatant violation of Spain's international obligations on non-refoulement. The authorities had been made aware, through civil society and legal appeals, that Mr Benhalima faces a high risk of torture, arbitrary detention and unfair trial in Algeria, where such violations are increasingly common against prisoners of opinion and peaceful activists.
Algeria: Unprecedented repression threatens survival of independent civil society
During the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, MENA Rights Group supported a joint oral intervention, led by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, condemning the Algerian authorities’ mounting repression of peaceful opposition and independent civil society. The organisations urged the international community to support Algerian human rights defenders who are facing imprisonment on the basis of overly broad terrorism charges.
Algeria: Escalating repression threatens the survival of independent civil society
On the third anniversary of Algeria’s pro-democracy protest movement, Hirak, the undersigned organisations express their strong concern at the dangerous intensification of Algerian authorities’ repressive tactics to silence peaceful dissent and stifle civil society. The arrests of human rights defenders Zaki Hannache and Faleh Hammoudi respectively on 18 and 19 February – the latter condemned to three years imprisonment on 20 February in the first instance – are the latest examples of these repressive tactics
Algeria: Marked regression in human rights underscored by proliferation of baseless terrorism prosecutions
A coalition of 11 NGOs raises serious concerns over the sustained repression of fundamental freedoms and legitimate human rights work in Algeria, including the marked proliferation of prosecutions on baseless terrorism charges against human rights defenders, journalists and peaceful activists.
Algeria: Authorities must not allow another preventable death in detention
NGOs raise serious concerns for physical and psychological integrity of prisoner of conscience Abdallah Benaoum subjected to long-term judicial harassment.
Algeria: effort to dissolve prominent civic association
Government’s court case against RAJ threatens freedom of association.