Amnesty condemns Algeria’s “campaign of repression”

UK-based NGO Amnesty International recently reiterated their calls for the release of those arrested during the Hirak in Algeria.

The Hirak refers to a mass number of protests in the country from 2019 to 2021 in which large crowds protested a fifth presidential term of the late Abdelaziz Bouteflika, political corruption, restrictions on free speech and a free press, and mass unemployment. 

Despite the movement, which triggered the resignation of President Bouteflika in April 2019 (two months after demonstrations officially began), being largely peaceful, dozens of activists were arrested and are still languishing in jails to this day. 

Amnesty International, who have historically reported numerous instances of crackdown on freedoms in Algeria before and after Tebboune’s rise to power, called for those who were banged up simply because they expressed their views and opposition to the leadership in Algiers to be released with immediate effect. 

The human rights group wrote an article on their website, on February 22, which commemorates the five-year anniversary of the start of the Hirak titled: “Five years after Hirak protest movement repressive clampdown continues unabated”. 

READ: Algeria: War on dissent as researcher and journalist jailed

They note that, “After the Hirak protest movement was halted due to Covid-19 in 2020, the Algerian authorities escalated their repression of peaceful dissent.  

“Hundreds of people have been arbitrarily arrested and detained, dozens of peaceful protesters, journalists, activists, and human rights defenders continue to languish behind bars for criticizing the authorities.” 

The rights group have also voiced at the shutdown of Maghreb Emergent and Radio M, outlets critical of the Tebboune government, as well as the dubious arrests of reporter Mustapha Bendjama and Canadian-Algerian researcher Raouf Farrah in recent times. 

The latter, who lived in Canada prior to his arrest, was jailed when visiting family in Algeria on charges of “receiving funds from foreign powers for the purposes of undermining state security”. 

Regarding the Hirak protests, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Heba Morayef also said on February 22, “It is a tragedy that five years after brave Algerians took to the streets in their masses to demand political change and reforms, the authorities have continued to wage a chilling campaign of repression,” 

Although political dissatisfaction is rife, it is believed that Abdelmadjid Tebboune will secure a second term in office as experts have stated that a low turnout in the expected December election will likely benefit the incumbent. 

Amnesty International