Activists Renew Concerns About Deterioration of Human Rights in Algeria

The vice-president of the League for the Defence of Human Rights, Said Salhi echoed concerns about the deterioration of human rights in Algeria, during a session of the Human Rights sub-committee of the EU’s foreign affairs committee held on March 21 in Brussels.

Rabat – The vice-president of the League for the Defence of Human Rights, Said Salhi echoed concerns about the deterioration of human rights in Algeria, during a session of the Human Rights sub-committee of the EU’s foreign affairs committee held on March 21 in Brussels.

“My friends in Algeria are in prison,” he said referring to those who are being punished by the harassment campaign that Tebboune’s government launched.

The said harassment campaign also marked the arrest of the journalist Ihsane El-Kadi in December 2022. The arrest created controversy among human rights and press freedom organizations.

MEP Bernard Guetta who moderated the session, commented on freedom of expression in Algeria stressing that “It is still strictly controlled, and increasingly so.”

Another case of repression is that of the political activist Amira Bouraoui who was compelled to illegally enter Tunisia to escape threats of imprisonment in Algeria. It is estimated that around 300 people are imprisoned for political reasons in Algeria.

Echoing the statements about the worsening situation Salhi warned: “Repression has hardened significantly since 2019.”

Algeria shares a significant partnership with the EU in the southern region. Among the objectives, the two partners are committed to promoting human rights, as noted in the EU-Algeria Association Agreement.

However, the visit of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to Algiers last week failed to discuss the situation with Algeria’s President Adelmadjid Tebboune. Instead, Borrell raised the issue of gas and oil exports and the control of migratory flows.

The year 2022 saw the killing of 12 journalists among women and 104 imprisoned around the globe. The outlet msmagazine said that “last year marked the highest number of murdered and imprisoned women journalists in a single year.” The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) considered this number as the highest since 2017.