UK parliament questions Algeria on human rights violations in Kabylie

The issue of human rights in Algeria, particularly in the Kabylie region, is gaining increasing international attention. During a recent session in the House of Commons, British MP Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) denounced the repression faced by the Kabyle people, highlighting arbitrary arrests, heightened surveillance, and restrictions on religious freedom.

In his speech, Shannon recalled that these violations had led the United States to place Algeria on a “special watch list” for fundamental rights abuses. He urged the British Foreign Minister to take an official stance on the Kabylie issue, warning that the situation was becoming “increasingly concerning.”

The MP cited multiple sources, including UN reports, a letter signed by eight international NGOs, and a recent legal analysis commissioned by British authorities, which recognizes the legitimacy of Kabyle self-determination under international law. He also noted that this was the first time since 1902 that the British Parliament had officially addressed the Kabylie issue, calling it a historic moment.

This parliamentary question comes amid growing international pressure on Algeria. Just a week earlier, UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor had published a damning report on the situation of human rights defenders in Algeria, specifically pointing to systematic repression in Kabylie.

In response, the UK government reacted swiftly. Lucy Powell, Minister for Relations with the House of Commons, confirmed that the British ambassador in Algiers had recently met with Algeria’s Foreign Minister and raised concerns about freedoms in Kabylie.

The Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK) views this parliamentary recognition as a major breakthrough. Ferhat Mehenni, President of the Kabyle Provisional Government in Exile, welcomed the growing international acknowledgment of the Kabyle cause, calling it a turning point in gaining global visibility.