Amnesty: Algeria forcibly returned Tunisian asylum seeker
Seifeddine Makhlouf seen exiting a polling station in 2019 (via AFP)
The global rights group Amnesty International has condemned Algeria for the forced return of former parliamentarian and government critic Seifeddine Makhlouf to Tunisia on January 18th, even though he was a registered asylum seeker, citing the violation of international law, The New Arab and agencies reported on January 26th.
Makhlouf, who is the leader of the Al Karama party in Tunisia, was sentenced to prison for plotting against state security, after which he sought asylum in Algeria in July 2024, also registering with the UN refugee agency UNHCR.
Amnesty in its statement said that Algerian authorities must ensure that procedural safeguards are put in place so that asylum seekers are not forced to return without an assessment of their protection needs, calling the handover of Makhlouf without notifying him and his lawyers “unlawful refoulement”.
Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said, “Seifeddine Makhlouf’s forced return is a violation of the principle of non-refoulement. By handing him over to Tunisian authorities without allowing him any opportunity to contest the decision or assessing the risks he faces in Tunisia, including the risk of prolonged arbitrary detention and unfair trial, Algeria has breached its obligations under international human rights law, including the Refugee Convention.”
Tunisia has become increasingly authoritarian since Kais Saied came to power in 2021, with a significant amount of repression of political activists, opposition figures, and journalists increasing. International rights groups have condemned the unjust trials of opposition leaders, calling them politically motivated conspiracy trials.
Kais Saied had dissolved the parliament and stripped parliamentarians of their immunity, after which Seifddine Makhlouf was sentenced in military court. This is also a violation of international standards to try civilians in military court, according to Amnesty.
Despite filing for asylum under the UNHCR, the Algerian authorities detained Makhlouf for three months citing irregular entry, which he served. Furthermore, Makhlouf was denied access to his appointments with UNHCR regarding his asylum after multiple requests by him and his lawyer.
Makhlouf was arrested on his arrival in Tunisia as he had not served his sentence. Amnesty International calls for “verdicts rendered in absentia to be quashed and for a new and fair trial to be held before an independent and impartial court.”
Sara Hashash called Algeria’s actions particularly alarming when Tunisia has been having a broader crackdown on dissent, “Algerian authorities have effectively colluded in the repression of political dissident in Tunisia,” she said.
She also called out Algeria’s ongoing expulsions of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, without any due process, saying it was “deeply concerning”.
The New Arab and agencies, Amnesty, Maghrebi.org
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