The resumption of the Hirak marches at the end of February, after a year of suspension due to the health crisis, has been accompanied by an intensification of arrests of activists, in particular for a week.
Several thousand people protested in Algiers to denounce the upsurge in police and judicial repression against the activists of the popular Algerian anti-regime movement of Hirak, Friday, April 30.
“Release our children so that they fast with us during this Ramadan”, chanted the protesters, condemning “justice at the orders” of the authorities. “Police everywhere, justice nowhere”, could one read on a sign held up by a young Algerian. Protesters also reiterated their rejection of the snap parliamentary elections called in June. “No elections with the gang [in power] “, we heard in the procession.
Despite the heat, the crowd was large for this “Friday 115” (number of weeks since the birth of Hirak), a test for the movement after the police prevented the weekly march of the students in Algiers.
The resumption of the Hirak marches at the end of February, after a year of suspension due to the health crisis, has been accompanied by an intensification of arrests of activists, in particular for a week. On Tuesday, the police dispersed the protesters and arrested around 20 people.
” Lobby “
When the arrested protestors are released, they must sign a document at the police station in which they pledge not to participate in the weekly marches, said Saïd Salhi, vice-president of the Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights. They are also threatened with not being released in the event of a repeat offense and re-arrest, while those placed under judicial supervision are ordered not to speak to the media. “It is intimidation and a way of exerting pressure to weaken the Hirak”, deplores Mr. Salhi, criticizing “an attack on public freedoms”.
