Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International (AI) have jointly called on Algerian authorities to reverse the decision to dissolve the Algerian League for Defence of Human Rights (LADDH) over ‘politically motivated’ allegations.
The organisations also called on the authorities to end their general crackdown on independent civil society organisations (CSOs) and ensure they can operate in a safe and enabling environment.
Development Diaries reports that the Administrative Court of Algiers dissolved the LADDH on 29 June, 2022, following a complaint filed by the Interior Ministry.
The ministry accused LADDH of engaging in provocative activities.
‘The Algerian authorities seem determined to shut down any independent activity that would shed light on human rights violations’, the Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at HRW, Eric Goldstein, said in a statement.
‘In that context, it was only a matter of time before they went after the oldest and most established national human rights organisation of them all’.
The rights organisations said that the right to freedom of association is guaranteed in Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article Ten of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both instruments ratified by Algeria.
Article 53 of Algeria’s constitution also guarantees the right to freedom of association, allowing associations to form legally on the basis of a simple declaration.
‘Algeria is rapidly plunging ever deeper into a human rights crisis where there is virtually no more space for human rights work and activities’, AI’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Amna Guellali, said.
‘The authorities’ dismantling of the oldest human rights group in the country will go down in history as a shameful act that must be reversed immediately’.
The LADDH is the oldest independent human rights organisation in Algeria and has continuously played a leading role in advocating for human rights and democracy in the country.
Freedom House rated Algeria ‘not free’ in its 2022 Freedom in the World report on political rights and civil liberties, with the country earning 32 points out of a possible 100.
Source: HRW
Photo source: HRW
