UN rapporteur slams restrictions on human rights defenders in Algeria

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, criticised Algeria, which she said continues “to restrict and harass human rights defenders for their peaceful activities.”

“More than a year after I visited Algeria – at the end of 2023 – I am deeply disappointed to see that human rights defenders in different fields of work, some of whom I met, are still being arbitrarily arrested, judicially harassed, intimidated and criminalised for their peaceful activities under vaguely worded provisions, such as ‘harming the security of the State,’” she said in a statement published by the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR).

She stated the human rights defenders had not been involved in any violence and that they should all be treated in accordance with international human rights law, which Algeria is committed to respecting.

Lawlor explained that there was ongoing communication between her and the Algerian government on these issues, while highlighting the case of activist Merzoug Touati, who has been tried on what she described as “spurious charges” for years, adding that he has been detained three times since 2024.

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She also referred to the arrest of three human rights lawyers and a young whistleblower between February and July 2024, and spoke about the case of lawyer Toufik Belala, who was summoned for interrogation three times since April 2024, and was later charged with publishing false information that may threaten the security of the state, before being freed under judicial control.

“Other restrictive articles of the Penal Code have been used to accuse human rights lawyer Omar Boussag of ‘incitement of an unarmed gathering’ and ‘contempt of an official body’ following the publication of his posts on Facebook,” she said.

During her visit to Algeria in December 2023, Lawlor said she called for human rights defenders to be allowed to carry out their work. She also called on the Algerian government to release political prisoners and journalists, as well as bloggers and environmental defenders. She explained that she spoke with the minister about the use of the Penal Code to issue sentences against journalists, while the constitution protects them from imprisonment.

The Algerian government has repeatedly defended the human rights situation in the country. It has also denied that any “unconstitutional practices” are carried out. The government report indicated that there are no discriminatory measures against civil society activists, as the state provides legal and judicial protection to citizens and foreigners alike to exercise all rights and freedoms.