Algerian human rights lawyers acquitted

Algerian human rights lawyers Hassiba Boumerdesi and Amine Sidhoum were acquitted of charges of violating laws governing the organization and security of prisons by a court in Algiers on 25 April 2007. The charges were based on allegations by the prison authorities that they had passed items to their clients in detention without authorization and carried prison terms of up to five years.

Amnesty International believes that the charges were trumped-up and brought against the lawyers to intimidate them and deter them from carrying out human rights work. Their trial began on 17 January 2007.

Both lawyers have thanked the organization for its campaigning work on their case and the moral support they have received in letters from hundreds of its members.