UN experts demand the release of Algerian journalist

United Nations experts have issued a formal demand for the immediate release of journalist and human rights activist Hassan Bouras. A statement, released on July 10 by the UN High Commission on Human Rights, expresses “deep concern over the detention of Algerian journalist and human rights defender Hassan Bouras, who faces serious risks after several weeks on hunger strike in detention.”

The experts concluded that Bouras’s detention is directly tied to his journalism and human rights work. He was arrested on April 12 in El Bayadh by agents in plain clothes. According to reports provided to the UN, the officers did not present an arrest warrant. Authorities have charged him with “belonging to a terrorist organisation” and “spreading publications harming national interest.” These charges have become recurring tools used against activists and journalists in the country. Following a 26-day hunger strike, the UN experts expressed grave concerns about his health and his lack of access to legal counsel.

According to the news outlet Le Matin d’Algerie, this case reflects a pattern identified by international organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. They have documented how Algerian authorities consistently use anti-terrorism legislation to prosecute activities protected by the rights to freedom of expression and association. Critics argue that the judiciary has lost its independence. Instead, they claim the court system now functions as an arm of the executive branch, used to silence critical voices. Prolonged pre-trial detention and severe criminal charges are now standard methods of control.

This situation poses a diplomatic problem for President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. His administration has promised to build a modern state based on institutional respect and stability, Le Matin d’Algerie reports. However, international partners and foreign investors place a high value on judicial independence and legal certainty. The repeated warnings from UN mechanisms and major NGOs clash with the government’s official narrative.

Maghrebi.org, UNHCHR, Le Matin d’Algérie.