Front Line Defenders has called on the authorities in Algeria to drop all terrorism charges against human rights activists Kaddour Chouicha, Jamila Loukil, and Said Boudour.
The human rights defenders were charged in a new criminal case, which includes the charge of ‘enrolment in a terrorist or subversive organisation active abroad or in Algeria’.
The case also includes 12 other activists involved in the ‘Hirak’ protest movement. If convicted, the human rights defenders may be sentenced to up to 20 years imprisonment.
‘Front Line Defenders are deeply concerned about the terrorist charges and allegations brought against the human rights defenders in response to their peaceful and legitimate human rights work’, the organisation said.
‘Front Line Defenders believes that this charge is solely motivated by their participation in the Hirak protest movement and is an attempt to deliberately mischaracterise their human rights activities and the Hirak movement as a whole.
‘Front Line Defenders calls on the authorities to drop all charges against the three above-mentioned human rights defenders’.
The Hirak Movement began in February 2019 after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced his candidacy for a fifth presidential term.
Protesters marched every Friday until Bouteflika resigned in April. A largely boycotted election produced President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in December 2019.
The Hirak Movement continued to march, insisting on the departure of the ruling elite and a transition toward more democratic governance.
The United States, in a 2020 report, noted human rights issues, including arbitrary detention, serious restrictions on freedom of expression and press, arrests of journalists and substantial interference with freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, in Algeria
Also, Human Right Watch reported in 2020 that despite President Tebboune’s promise of dialogue, authorities continued to arrest and imprison protesters, activists, and journalists in an attempt to muzzle the Hirak.
Protests paused for nine months because of the Covid-19 pandemic but resumed on 22 February, 2021, to mark the second anniversary of the beginning of the movement.
Sources: Front Line Defenders, United States Department of State
Photo source: AP/Toufik Doudou
