Algerian Government Accused of Negligence After Death of Former Minister in Prison

Police officers wait near a prisoner transport vehicle by the gate of a court, after businessmen suspected of corruption were driven into the building in Algiers, Algeria (Reuters)
Police officers wait near a prisoner transport vehicle by the gate of a court, after businessmen suspected of corruption were driven into the building in Algiers, Algeria (Reuters)
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Algerian Government Accused of Negligence After Death of Former Minister in Prison

Police officers wait near a prisoner transport vehicle by the gate of a court, after businessmen suspected of corruption were driven into the building in Algiers, Algeria (Reuters)
Police officers wait near a prisoner transport vehicle by the gate of a court, after businessmen suspected of corruption were driven into the building in Algiers, Algeria (Reuters)

A former Algerian minister, Musa Benhamadi, has died in prison from the COVID-19 illness, his family nnounced his family on Saturday, accusing the Ministry of Justice of “negligence.”

Jurists said there were "strong suspicions" that a number of people were infected with the coronavirus after attending trials where they did not respect health precautions and maintain social distancing.

One of Benhamadi's relatives told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Minister's brothers have accused the Ministry of Justice of negligence in providing health care for him and would be filing a complaint against the prison administration.

The family of the late minister accused the administration of the prison of delaying his treatment, saying he contracted the virus on July 4 and was not transferred quickly to a hospital in Algiers until the 13th of the same month.

The relative of Benhamadi confirmed that his condition worsened and the prison administration did not transfer him to the hospital until after suffering from difficulty breathing.

He died on Friday night after the ventilator failed to keep him alive.

The prison administration did not act quickly and had plenty of time to provide him with needed treatment, according to the relative, who asserted that his family blames the administration for not saving him.

The former minister was buried in his hometown Ras el-Ma, 250 km east of Algiers, in the presence of the town’s imam and his two sons only.

Authorities banned hundreds of people from attending the funeral for health reasons.

The former minister was prosecuted in cases of corruption related to deals in violation of legislation in the telecommunications and mobile phones sector, during the reign of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

He was one of the prominent leaders of the National Liberation Front, knowing that two former leaders of the Front, Mohammad Jumaiy and Jamal Ould Abbas were also imprisoned on corruption charges.

The two former prime ministers, Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal, have been in hospital for a week after they contracted the coronavirus in prison. They were convicted of corruption during Bouteflika’s era and sentenced to prison in four cases.

Families of thousands of prisoners are concerned about their relatives’ health conditions, after the death of Benhamadi.

Lawyers attending the cases of government officials and businessmen suspect that during the past months many contracted the virus during their trials where health measures were not respected, especially social distancing.

Attorney Khaled Bouraya, who is defending a prominent businessman convicted to 12 years in prison, said that the trial was not open to the public, however, many of the attendees did not maintain the distance.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that some of them were wearing the masks in a way that did not protect them from the virus and put others at risk.

Bouraya indicated that the defense couldn't rule out the possibility that their client and his brothers were infected with the virus during the trials that lasted for a week. He added that there was a possibility that they transmitted the virus upon their return to prison.

The lawyer announced that the prison administration and the Justice Ministry are responsible for ensuring courts are safe and providing treatment to prisoners, adding that it is their right to receive treatment like all citizens.



Blinken Lays Out Post-war Gaza Plan to Be Handed to Trump Team

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
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Blinken Lays Out Post-war Gaza Plan to Be Handed to Trump Team

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday laid out plans for the post-war management of Gaza, saying the outgoing Biden administration would hand over the roadmap to President-elect Donald Trump's team to pick up if a ceasefire deal is reached.

Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington in his final days as the US top diplomat, Blinken said Washington envisioned a reformed Palestinian Authority leading Gaza and inviting international partners to help establish and run an interim administration for the enclave.

A security force would be formed from forces from partner nations and vetted Palestinian personnel, Blinken said during his speech, which was repeatedly interrupted by protesters who accused him of supporting genocide by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel denies.

He was speaking as negotiators met in Qatar hoping to finalize a plan to end the war in Gaza after 15 months of conflict that has upended the Middle East.

"For many months, we've been working intensely with our partners to develop a detailed post-conflict plan that would allow Israel to fully withdraw from Gaza, prevent Hamas from filling back in, and provide for Gaza's governance, security and reconstruction," Blinken said.

Trump and his incoming team have not said whether they would implement the plan.

Blinken said a post-conflict plan and a "credible political horizon for Palestinians" was needed to ensure that Hamas does not re-emerge.

The United States had repeatedly warned Israel that Hamas could not be defeated by a military campaign alone, he said. "We assess that Hamas has recruited almost as many new fighters as it has lost. That is a recipe for an enduring insurgency and perpetual war."

PROTESTERS

Blinken's remarks were interrupted three times by protesters, who echoed accusations that the Biden administration was complicit in crimes committed by Israel in the war.

Blinken has denied Israel's actions amount to genocide and says he has pushed Israel to do more to protect civilians and to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel launched its assault after Hamas-led fighters stormed across its borders on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's aerial and ground campaign has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, drawing accusations of genocide in a World Court case brought by South Africa and of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the allegations.

The assault has displaced nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population and drawn the concern of the world’s main hunger monitor.

"You will forever be known as bloody Blinken, secretary of genocide," one protester shouted before being led out of the event.

Blinken remained calm, telling one heckler: "I respect your views. Please allow me to share mine," before resuming his remarks.

Blinken said US officials had debated "vigorously" the Biden administration's response to the war, a reference to a slew of resignations by officials in his State Department who have criticized the policy to continue providing arms and diplomatic cover to Israel.

Others felt Washington had held Israel back from inflicting greater damage on Iran and its proxies, he said.

"It is crucial to ask questions like these, which will be studied for years to come," he said. "I wish I could stand here today and tell you with certainty that we got every decision right. I cannot."