About 260 people are prosecuted in Algeria for acts of terrorism although they have not participated in any act of violence, said Friday in Geneva, Karim Salem of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights (CIHRS).
According to the coordinator in charge of the Maghreb at the center, which has special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, the victims of the prosecution have participated in peaceful activities.
The UN special rapporteurs and various international human rights mechanisms agree that the incriminated activities do not fall within the definition of the terrorist act, he explained, refuting the allegations of the Algerian state concerning the non-existence of a single definition of terrorism.
In a statement to MAP, on the sidelines of a symposium organized by the CIHRS, the human rights activist referred to the judicial harassment against activists and systematic restrictions imposed on associative and trade union action, ignoring the requirements of UN visits.
The broad definition of terrorism means that the authorities are free to act arbitrarily against peaceful expressions of opinion, he said, presenting a non-exhaustive list of personalities who have been or are being detained, including bloggers, journalists, activists and lawyers.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.