This update covers developments relating to the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association in Algeria from 19th September 2025 to 15th December 2025.
GENERAL
Opposition leader sentenced again to prison for alleged insult to the President
On 21st October 2025, the court of Hussein-Dey sentenced opposition leader Fethi Ghares to two years in prison, along with a fine of 300,000 dinars (about USD 3200), for allegedly “insulting the President of the Republic”, “insulting a constituted body” and “spreading false information likely to undermine public order and security”. Fethi was the leader of the Democratic and Social Movement, which was banned in February 2023. Fethi Ghares stated in a video posted on his Facebook page that he was being accused of criticising President Tebboune during a meeting with the media in which he announced a revision of the electoral and party laws.
He remains provisionally free as he has filed for appeal. This conviction comes after several successive criminal proceedings against him since 2021, including sentences already handed down in 2022, 2024 and 2025 for political remarks.
Arrest and detention of community activist and member of the Socialist Workers' Party
On 14th December 2025, Lyés Touati, a well-known political and community activist in the region of Bejaia was arrested in Aokas, and then taken to the local police station. The investigating judge at the court in Bejaia ordered his pre-trial detention as part of an ongoing investigation. No reason for this arrest was given to his comrades who approached the police station to inquire about the situation.
Possible lifting of death penalty moratorium
On 20th October 2025, the president of the Court of Béjaïa, Mustapha Smati, publicly declared that it will “soon return to the application of the death penalty“, suspended since 1993, in cases of child abduction and drug trafficking in schools. The magistrate justified this prospect by indicating that it is in line with the pledge of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune made during his opening speech of the 2025-2026 judicial year. However, various media noted that no mention of the matter was made during this speech.
The Algerian justice system continues to hand down death sentences in certain cases, but these sentences are suspended and converted to life imprisonment.
EXPRESSION
Discussion on FLN funds management leads to journalist's conviction and media outlet closure
On 27th November 2025, veteran journalist Saâd Bouakba was arrested on charges of defaming the late President Ahmed Ben Bella after Ben Bella’s daughter filed a complaint about Bouakba’s interview on the local YouTube-based channel Vision TV News. In that interview, Bouakba discussed the "FLN treasure affair" and questioned the management of certain funds belonging to the National Liberation Front. During this interview, the journalist claimed that after independence in 1962, certain FLN leaders had taken control of part of these funds.
On 4th December 2025, the Bir Mourad Raïs court in Algiers sentenced journalist Saâd Bouakba to a three-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of one million dinars (about USD 7700) for "insulting and defaming" the "symbols of the National Liberation Revolution" and for "spreading false information" via information and communication technologies. The journalist had already been imprisoned in 1992 and 1996, and detained in 2023.
The manager of Vision TV, Abderrahim Harraoui, was given a one-year suspended prison sentence. In addition, the permanent closure of the channel was ordered as well as the confiscation of its broadcasting equipment.
Conviction of French journalist for apology of terrorism upheld
On 3rd December 2025, the Tizi Ouzou Court of Appeals upheld the seven-year prison sentence handed down to French journalist Christophe Gleizes on 29th June 2025 for apology of terrorism. As a soccer specialist, he was arrested while working on a report and a book project about the Jeunesse Sportive Kabylie club. The Algerian justice system accuses the reporter of having contacts with individuals linked to the separatist movement Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK).
The French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs officially stated that they "deeply regretted" the confirmation of this sentence, recalling the journalist's full cooperation with the authorities and expressing its concern for press freedom. Organisations such as Reporters Without Borders denounced the decision as disproportionate and politically motivated.
The journalist filed an appeal in cassation against his conviction.
President pardons French writer Sansal after diplomatic pressure. Collective denounces selective release of prisoners
On 12th November 2025, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune pardoned Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who had been detained since November 2024 and sentenced on 27th March 2025 to five years in prison for “undermining state security” and “national unity.” The Algerian presidency stated the pardon followed a humanitarian appeal by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, citing Sansal’s advanced age and deteriorating health. Under the arrangement, Germany would cover his transfer and medical care. Sansal was released, moved to Berlin, and later travelled to France.
On 22nd November 2025, the Algeria Solidarity Group, a collective of civil society actors, issued a statement urging the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals imprisoned for peacefully expressing their political views in Algeria. The group criticises the release of Boualem Sansal as selective, noting that many others remain behind bars for social media posts, writings, union activities, and non-violent political engagement. The statement condemned the use of prolonged pre-trial detention, unfounded prosecutions, and restrictive laws to silence dissent.
The day after Sansal’s release, Mohamed Baba Nedjar, considered to be Algeria's longest-serving prisoner of conscience, started a hunger strike to denounce the continuation of his incarceration that started in 2005. He ended his hunger strike on 13th December 2025.
As a reminder, Mohamed Baba Nedjar was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a citizen, Brahim Bazine, in Ghardaïa in 2005, a crime he categorically denies. Several human rights organisations had already described his trial as rushed and marred by serious irregularities.
Union leader sentenced in retaliation for providing information to the International Labour Organisation’s supervisory bodies
On 29th October 2025, the criminal court of first instance in Oum El Bouaghi sentenced Ali Mammeri, the president of the Union of Civil Servants in the Culture and Arts Sector (SNFC) and critical human rights defender, to 15 years in prison on charges of “glorifying terrorism” and “disseminating classified information via electronic means of communication.”
He was arrested on 19th March 2025 at his workplace, without a warrant, after his union sent a communication to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association on violations of trade union rights in Algeria. Mammeri reported ill-treatment in custody, including beatings, forced stripping, and the use of coerced confession.
Ali Mammeri’s case is illustrative of the Algerian authorities’ use of unfounded and overbroad terrorism charges to crush peaceful dissent and undermine the activities of unions and other independent groups
- Amnesty International
Poet sentenced to five years of imprisonment
On 10th November, twenty Algerian, regional, and international organisations urged authorities to drop all charges and release activist and poet Mohamed Tadjadit and his co-defendants. Their joint statement condemned the prosecutions as baseless and warned that the misuse of anti-terrorism laws against protected expression creates a chilling effect, eroding fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. Tadjadit, known as “the poet of the Hirak” is a figure of peaceful resistance. He has faced relentless judicial harassment since 2019, including multiple imprisonments, a pardon in November 2024, and a re-arrest in January 2025.
On 11th November 2025, Tadjadit was sentenced to five years in prison on terrorism-related charges, including “condoning terrorism” and “supporting terrorist organisations.”
On 16th November 2025, Tadjadit started a hunger strike. At the insistence of doctors, his defence team, and his family, he suspended it on 25th November 2025.
A new trial was scheduled for 30th November, where Tadjadit and twelve other activists face further accusations of “conspiring to incite citizens against the authority of the state and to undermine national unity”, punishable by long-term imprisonment and even the death penalty—despite the allegations being based solely on peaceful activism and private online communications advocating political reform.
Bar Association President imposes prior authorisation for lawyers’ media appearances
On 28th September 2025, the President of the Algiers Bar, Mohamed Baghdadi, sent a memo ordering his colleagues to refrain from making any public statements without his prior authorisation. The note imposes on the lawyers a prior authorisation for any media appearance and prohibits them from commenting on political or social subjects. There are penalties for those who refuse to comply, including expulsion from the bar association.
Six organisations of the Algerian diaspora reacted through a joint statement, denouncing what amounts to illegal censorship contrary to the principles of the rule of law, constitutional guarantees, and Algeria's international commitments and the laws of the profession.
Silencing lawyers outside the courtroom not only weakens the profession, but undermines the very foundations of democracy and deprives society of the benefit of independent legal opinions
- Joint statement by six associations of the Algerian diaspora
Two editors banned from participating in book fair
The Algiers International Book Fair took place from 29th October 2025 to 8th November 2025, at the Palais des Expositions des Pins Maritimes in Algiers. Two editors, Tafat and Koukou Éditions were not allowed to participate. They denounce a climate of political control over the book sector, as well as unjustified exclusions.
Koukou Editions is an Algerian publishing house, specialising in political essays, historical accounts, and current affairs. Its director recognises that the publications have often sparked heated debates, but they have never given rise to incidents. Koukou Editions had already been forbidden to participate for three consecutive years and filed a complaint in 2024. On 1st July 2025, the chairman of the Censorship Commission, Mr. Tidjani Tama, revealed that the punitive measures taken against Koukou Editions were ordered by the Minister of Culture, Ms. Soraya Mouloudji, following a “secret report of the security services”, which accuse “the publications of this publishing house of being destructive” and “infringing the image of Algeria”. However, this report was not added to the case, and the director of the publishing house was not granted the right to respond. The case was dismissed and will not be referred to a criminal court.
The request of Tafat to participate in SILA was also rejected without any explanation from the organisers.
Academic sentenced for his comments on Amazigh identity and then pardoned
Our previous update documented the case of Mohamed Amine Belghit, a historian known for making provocative public comments. On 3rd June 2025, the Dar El Beida court sentenced him to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 dinars (approximately 3,850 USD) for the crime of undermining national unity. On 7th October 2025, the tenth chamber of the Algiers Court of Appeal sentenced him to three years in prison, two of which were suspended.
On 15th December 2025, the president signed a presidential decree granting full pardon to the historian.
Writer detained for a social media post
The writer and publisher Zineb Melizi, also known as Salima Melizi, posted a comment on Facebook about Ibtissem Hamlaoui, president of the National Observatory of Civil Society and the Algerian branch of the Red Crescent, raising allegations of misconduct and mismanagement within the organisations she heads.
Judicial authorities brought charges against Zineb Melizi, including “insulting a public official”, “threatening a public official in the exercise of their official duties”, and “failing to comply with official summonses”. On 29th October 2025 she was questioned by the Bir Mourad Raïs national gendarmerie brigade, and the next day the Bir Mourad Raïs court ordered her provisional detention. Zineb Melizi is 65 years old. She was released the next day.
Journalist sentenced for posts on social media about human rights and judicial decisions
On 12th October 2025, the Annaba court sentenced journalist and former editor-in-chief Mustapha Bendjama to a one-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 100,000 dinars (about 770 USD) for “publishing false news” and “undermining the national interest.” He was arrested on 30th December 2025, placed under judicial supervision for sharing, on his personal accounts, publications by lawyers of the Collective for the Defense of Prisoners of Conscience, who criticised certain judicial decisions, and for denouncing his arbitrary travel ban. During his judicial supervision he was banned from publishing or leaving the country.
Activist sentenced for social media posts
On 21st October 2025, the Setif Court of Justice upheld the initial judgment against activist Hmimi Boudier handed down in April, sentencing him to six months of suspended imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 Algerian dinars (about 770 USD). Boudier had commented on national political and human rights issues. He was prosecuted for posting content likely to harm national interests, under Article 96 of the Penal Code, and spreading misleading information that could undermine public order, under Article 196 bis of the Penal Code.
Arrest of Kabyle activist and journalist
On 24th November 2025, Kabyle activist and journalist Abdelouahab Moualek was arrested and taken into custody by the Sidi Aich police department. According to him, he was then transferred in handcuffs to the Sidi Aïch court in a prison van, without any official explanation being given for the reason for his arrest.
Abdelouahab Moualek is the moderator of the local news website “Bejaia06.com”. Since 2019, he has been prosecuted and tried in 10 different cases, for “incitement to unarmed assembly, publications that could undermine national unity, and incitement to reject the elections.”
Acquittal of trade unionist suspended for months
On 4th December 2025, the Bejaia court acquitted the trade unionist and civil servant Karim Djidjeli and ordered the return of his cell phone. He was arrested on 22nd February 2025 and suspended from his functions on 29th June 2025. The two charges brought against him were “circulation of publications likely to harm the national interest” and “insult of a constituted body”.
Prohibited PhD thesis on Berber Movement in Kabylia
On 24th November 2025, doctoral student in sociology at Abderrahmane Mira University in Bejaia, Samir Larabi, issued a public statement accusing the university administration of illegally blocking his doctoral thesis defence for more than two years. His PhD thesis, entitled “The Berber Movement in Kabylie: Between National Integration and Independence”, was submitted in June 2023. According to him, the rectoral administration tries to censor him, refuses to provide written replies to his multiple requests, and distills lies by claiming that “security services” would have expressed reservations about the content of his work.
Arbitrary travel bans as a tool of repression
On 30th October 2025, MENA Rights Group published a new report entitled “Algeria: Travel bans, a tool of mass repression in the hands of the authorities” which denounces the authorities' abuse of travel bans (ISTN) to silence dissenting voices and restrict freedom of movement. The report draws on nearly thirty cases and describes how these measures create a climate of fear and self-censorship. The report finds that these measures are often imposed arbitrarily, without prior notification, and only become apparent when the targeted individuals attempt to cross a border. The lack of a clear legal basis for these bans, as well as the possibility of extending them indefinitely and the impossibility of appealing them, constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of movement and breaches Algeria's international commitments.
ASSEMBLY
Anonymous call for Gen Z protests denounced as Moroccan plot
In the days leading up to 3rd October 2025, anonymous social accounts called for peaceful demonstrations on 3rd October in all cities across the country to denounce corruption and demand freedom for political prisoners. The call was launched by a mysterious collective called GenZ213 (“GenZ212” is the movement that rallied protests in Morocco in September 2025). On 30th September 2025, the Algerian Press Service denounced this as “Moroccan manipulation”. Moroccan media mocked the idea that any internal dissent in Algeria “is attributed to foreign manipulation”.
The security services closely monitored social media, and the capital Algiers was put under heavy police surveillance. On 3rd October 2025, no one took to the streets of the major cities.
Ten union leaders in custody after railworkers’ strike
On 26th November 2025, in the morning, a spontaneous railway strike took place. The mobilisation of railway workers is due to an open conflict with the National Railway Company (SNTF) management and, in particular, regarding “pressure on union activity.” Subsequentely, ten SNTF union members were remanded in custody after the strike action.
Sit-in for Sahrawi people’s rights
On 30th October 2025, ahead of a UN Security Council session on the Sahara, Saharawi students and citizens, including the Saharawi Arab Republic Ambassador, held a protest at the Saharawi Arab Republic Embassy in Algiers to denounce the US proposal on Western Sahara. They insisted on the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination and independence.
Mothers of the disappeared protest the State’s silence
On 10th December 2025, in Algiers, a dozen women and one man stood in front of the headquarters of the National Human Rights Council to demand truth and justice for missing relatives disappeared during the “black decade”.