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UN Expert to Algeria’s Government: Long-term Security Cannot be Achieved without Respecting Human Rights

A lion statue is pictured at the central square of Place d'Armes in the city of Oran, Algeria May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Abdelaziz Boumzar
A lion statue is pictured at the central square of Place d'Armes in the city of Oran, Algeria May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Abdelaziz Boumzar
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UN Expert to Algeria’s Government: Long-term Security Cannot be Achieved without Respecting Human Rights

A lion statue is pictured at the central square of Place d'Armes in the city of Oran, Algeria May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Abdelaziz Boumzar
A lion statue is pictured at the central square of Place d'Armes in the city of Oran, Algeria May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Abdelaziz Boumzar

The Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, has criticized the Algerian government for continuing “to use repressive, unconstitutional laws from the pre-Hirak era to repress peaceful dissent.”

The Human Rights Council in Geneva issued on Sunday a report written by the Special Rapporteur, who conducted a visit to Algeria in September 2023.

“Human rights activists and journalists continue to be arbitrarily detained and civil society associations arbitrarily dissolved or refused registration,” said the report.

In January 2023, the Special Rapporteur wrote to the Algerian government to express concern about the prosecution of journalist Ihsane El Kadi.

On 18 June 2023, the Algiers Court of Appeal upheld El Kadi’s conviction for receiving foreign funds for “political propaganda” and receiving funds that could undermine the security of the state and increased his sentence from five to seven years’ imprisonment.

During the visit, the Special Rapporteur reiterated his concerns about El Kadi’s prosecution, which is related to the legitimate exercise of his freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion.

Human rights organization, the Rassemblement actions jeunesse (Youth Action Rally), has been dissolved at the request of government authorities, said the report.

The Special Rapporteur acknowledged the desire of the Algerian government to ensure safety and stability. “However, long-term safety and security cannot be achieved without respecting human rights and ensuring that all persons, including critics of the government, can exercise their fundamental rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association,” he said.

“For true and long-standing peace and security, governments must treat civil society as a valued partner and not as a threat,” he added.

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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.