Amnesty slams Algeria over crackdown on ‘Manich Radi’ activists
People attend a demonstration outside the headquarters of the French-language newspaper "Liberté" in a suburb of Algeria's capital Algiers on April 25, 2021 calling for the release of the newspaper's correspondent Rabah Kareche, who was detained by Algerian authorities in the southern city of Tamanrasset earlier in the week. - Kareche was placed in provisional detention for allegedly spreading false information "harmful to public security". His detention came after he published an article on a Tuareg protest movement in the area. (Photo by - / AFP)
Amnesty International has issued a strong rebuke of Algeria for what it describes as “escalating repression” and “arbitrary” arrests, alongside “unfair” legal proceedings in recent months targeting activists and journalists affiliated with the “Manich Radi” (I am not satisfied) campaign, as reported by the Moroccan government friendly Hespress.
In a statement released on April 24th, the international human rights organisation condemned the Algerian authorities for what it called a marked increase in repression over the past five months, with particular focus on silencing an online protest movement.
According to Amnesty, at least 23 activists and journalists have been arrested and handed sentences in Algeria, many solely for backing the “Manich Radi” campaign, which was launched in December 2024 to protest against restrictions on human rights and deteriorating socio-economic conditions across the country.
“These individuals were detained simply for peacefully exercising their rights,” the organisation stated, stressing that the crackdown highlights a broader pattern of suppression.
Heba Morayef, Regional Director for Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa Office, warned, “the approach of suppressing online activism followed by Algerian authorities is dangerous and must be changed. Nothing justifies detaining and imprisoning people simply for expressing dissatisfaction with political, social, and economic conditions.”
This intensified clampdown comes as Algeria nears the sixth anniversary of the Hirak pro-democracy protest movement, which began in February 2019.
Amnesty further criticised what it described as hasty and opaque legal procedures that denied many detainees “adequate time to mount a proper defence.”
The organisation specifically cited the March convictions of activists Soheib Dabbagh and Mehdi Baazizi, who were each sentenced to 18 months in prison for their involvement in the “Manich Radi” campaign.
Amnesty International concluded by urging Algerian authorities to “immediately release all those detained simply for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression.”
Hespress. Amnesty International. Maghrebi
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