Articles for Algeria

On 27 September 1994, while at work, Maamar Ouaghlissi was arrested by three plain clothes agents who identified themselves as members of Security Forces. The grounds for the arrest were not given. Since then, Mr Ouaghlissi has disappeared.

Alkarama learned that Mr.

The national institution for human rights (NHRIs) in Algeria, headed by Farouk Ksentini, was demoted by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions (ICC).

The Sub-Committee of Accreditation of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC) has asked the Commission Nationale Consultative de Promotion et de Protection des Droits de l'Homme (CNCPPDH ) to provide within a year's time established evidence that it has not ceased to comply with the Paris Principles. Through this report, Alkarama hopes to contribute to the review by the ICC for the end of March 2009.

Algeria's national institution for human rights is about to lose its International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions (ICC) accreditation.

A General Resolution by the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) has recognized enforced disappearances as a crime against humanity. WGEID adopted a General Comment during its 87th session, equating the practice of enforced disappearances, when at a general and systematic level, as a crime against humanity.

While Morocco has announced its intention to ratify the Convention for the Protection of All Persons against Enforced Disappearance before the end of 2009, no such move has been announced by the Algerian authorities.

Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur on Follow-up of Views of the Human Rights Committee, asking them to put pressure on the Algerian authorities to try Medjnoun Malik. Accused of complicity in the assassination of singer Lounes Matoub, he claims he is innocent and has been waiting 10 years to be tried. He has been on a hunger strike since 31 January 2009.

Malik Medjnoun has been detained without trial for almost ten (10) years.

The Human Rights Council has just published the report submitted by Alkarama on 5 November 2008 in follow up to its recommendations regarding Algeria on its website. The examination will take place during the next session of the Committee.

Meanwhile the Algerian government's comments on the Committee's concluding observations, presented on 7 November 2007, have been published.

Malik Medjnoun, accused of complicity in the assassination of singer Lounes Matoub, has been detained without trial for nearly 10 years. To protest against this situation, Mr. Malik Medjnoun decided to start a hunger strike, beginning29 January 2009.