Algeria: When Trade Unionism Is Prosecuted as Terrorism
In recent years, Algeria has witnessed a dangerous escalation in the use of terrorism charges to prosecute political opponents and independent trade unionists, in a clear departure from the principles of the rule of law and the guarantees of a fair trial. The case of trade unionist and politician Ilyes Touati from the province of Bejaia is a stark example of this repressive trend, as he was placed in pretrial detention based on Article 87 bis of the Penal Code, […]
International Pressure Lifts the Veil on the UGTA’s Silence
At a time when trade union activity in Algeria is under unprecedented pressure, the solidarity statement issued by the French SUD-Rail Federation of Trade Unions raises fundamental questions about the reality of the trade union movement, not only from the perspective of authoritarian repression, but also from the perspective of silence and complicity within the official union (the General Union of Algerian Workers) itself. SUD-Rail is one of the trade union federations affiliated with […]
When Fraud Goes Unpunished and Activism Is Jailed: Rethinking Algeria’s Broken Justice System
The talk of a “crisis of justice” in Algeria is no longer merely a political label brandished by the opposition, or a rallying cry chanted by human rights organizations on international platforms; it has become a terrifying reality imposed by statistics, court rulings, and documented facts in court records. We are faced with a judicial landscape that reveals a profound imbalance in the scales of justice, where the balance tips suspiciously in favor of corruption […]
December 10 — Independent Unionists, Human Rights Defenders First
December 10th marks International Human Rights Day. This year, it comes at a time of increasing restrictions on fundamental freedoms and an unprecedented decline in the role of independent trade unions. In Algeria, our responsibility as independent trade union organizations is amplified. We have never been treated as social partners, but rather as a disruptive force that refuses to submit to the logic of political loyalty and governmental and security extensions. The undeniable truth after years […]