In Algeria, Between 250 and 300 people remain deprived of their freedom solely for participating in the Hirak protest movement or for criticizing the authorities on social media.
Thanks to your actions, we were able to collect more than 50,000 signatures for the release of Hirak detainees in Algeria, and together, we can pave the way to liberate the remaining detainees.
On February 18, 2021, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced a presidential pardon for Hirak detainees. From February 19 to 25, 2021, 59 people arbitrarily arrested for expressing their opinions or demonstrating peacefully were released. Some have benefited from provisional release pending trial and others from a presidential pardon.
Tens of others were also released last year after their sentences were reduced on appeal.
But repression has recently escalated. Authorities arrested and detained hundreds of political and civil society activists, human rights defenders as well as journalists for expressing their views or for speaking about the Hirak, prosecuting them under vaguely worded Penal Code provisions.
Our mobilization must continue until the release of the last detainee.