Human Rights Issues in Algeria

The Amnesty Law
On 27 February 2006, Algeria’s full cabinet approved a decree that provides for extending a blanket amnesty to the security forces and seemingly also to state-armed militias. It also widens previous partial amnesties for members of armed groups, all of whom have committed crimes under international law and other grave human rights abuses that so far have not been investigated.

The proposed new measures denies truth and justice to the victims of the abuses and their families. They bar victims and their relatives from seeking justice in Algeria and prevent the truth of these abuses from emerging through Algerian courts. These measures in this way contravene international law.

Freedom of Expression
According to continuous reports by human rights organisations,  journalists, civil society activists and government critics in Algeria are facing harassment, intimidation and the risk of imprisonment. In 2005, some 18 journalists were sentenced to imprisonment on defamation charges, in many cases after complaints were filed by public officials. 

A decree enacted on 27 February 2006 provides for punishments of up to five years in prison for those who by speech or in writing “exploit the wounds of the National Tragedy” to tarnish the image of Algeria or the good reputation of its agents. Authorities are aggressively prosecuting journalists working in privately-owned media and state media allow virtually no dissenting views.

Torture

Human rights organizations receive continued information that individuals arrested after protests are tortured or ill-treated in custody. In violation of national and international law, detainees suspected of terrorism-related activities continue to be held in a secret location during police custody and are denied the right to communicate with their families, putting them at risk of torture.

The vast majority of allegations of torture made during 2005 and in previous years were not investigated.

 

To know more about human rights issues in Algeria, see: