The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed its deep concern over the human rights situation in Algeria.
The Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Rupert Colville, urged the Algerian authorities to end the arbitrary arrests and detention of people who have exercised their rights to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly.
“Since the resumption of demonstrations in the streets of Algeria on 13 February 2021 – after a year of protests held online by the Hirak movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic – we have received sustained reports of unnecessary and disproportionate force against peaceful protesters, as well as continuing arrests,” Colville said in a press briefing in Geneva Tuesday.
The spokesman also urged the Algerian authorities to stop using violence to disperse peaceful demonstrations and to cease all forms of harassment and intimidation against people participating in the Hirak movement.
Over the past two months, activists, human rights defenders, students, journalists, bloggers, and citizens peacefully expressing dissent have continued to face criminal prosecution, he noted, adding that Hirak activists continue to be prosecuted on the basis of overly broad laws.
"We reiterate our call on the authorities to conduct prompt, impartial, and effective investigations into all allegations of human rights violations, to hold accountable those responsible, and to ensure that victims have access to redress."
Meanwhile, the security forces arrested six journalists, including the observer of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Khaled Drareni, during the weekly protests of university students.
Drareni left prison last February after 11 months of pretrial detention.
The security forces violently dispersed the protesters as they gathered in "Martyrs Square" in Algiers, where they arrested many of them.
Student Marwan Raziq told Asharq Al-Awsat that it is not clear why authorities are using force with the protesters, even though the president said that the demonstrations do not bother him.
Journalists in Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia states, in the Kabylie region, confirmed that the security forces prevented a student demonstration, which is unusual.
Observers say that the recent police brutality reflects the government's will to end the protests before the parliamentary electoral campaigns, which begin next week.
