Advocacy / Algeria

HRC 52: Civil society calls on Algeria to put an end to reprisals and release arbitrarily detained individuals

March 27, 2023

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.

Also available in French

#NotACrime: Online campaign calls on Algerian authorities to stop their assault on civic space and fundamental freedoms

May 19, 2022

#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

March 30, 2022

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

March 08, 2022

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.

Also available in French

Algeria: Escalating repression threatens the survival of independent civil society

February 22, 2022

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

December 24, 2021

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

December 21, 2021

NGOs raise serious concerns for physical and psychological integrity of prisoner of conscience Abdallah Benaoum subjected to long-term judicial harassment.

Also available in French

Algeria: effort to dissolve prominent civic association

October 12, 2021

Government’s court case against RAJ threatens freedom of association.

Joint oral intervention on the deteriorating situation of human rights in Algeria

September 29, 2021

Joint oral intervention by Nada Awad of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, during a discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests, held on September 29, 2021.

Crisis of Inaction on Enforced Disappearances in Africa

August 30, 2021

Research by NGO coalition shows that underreporting and political disregard are undermining victims’ fight for justice