Algerian police arrested Benchemsi during the 25th Friday of protests in Algiers.
Rabat – An Algerian court has ordered the expulsion of Ahmed Benchemsi, Advocacy and Communications Director for Human Rights Watch (HRW) the Middle East and North Africa division.
The court ruled that Benchemsi entered Algeria without any official authorization to act as a representative of HRW, local media said.
An investigation allegedly indicates that his trip to Algeria was “part of a foreign agenda aimed at infiltrating” the popular movement or Algerian Hirak.
Algerian security services arrested Benchemsi on Friday, August 9 during the 25th week of Algerian protests.
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The continuous protests in Algeria are part of the Algerian popular movement against the government and Algeria’s army chief Gaid Salah.
Algerian news outlet TSA said that the police released Benchemsi at midnight on Friday, August 9, after several hours of detention.
Benchemsi, the founder of Moroccan news outlets Telquel and Nishan, has criticized human rights issues in the MENA region.
In March, Benchemsi published “An Algerian Spring Day,” a piece in which he described the situation surrounding peaceful protests.
The publication came after he and one of his colleagues attended one of the protests.
Benchemsi’s recent visit to Algeria, however, was not an official mission.
Al Watan news outlet reported that “It is true that Benchemsi was not in Algeria on an official mission.”
HRW has not yet commented on the arrest nor the release of its leading member.
