Trade Unionist Ali Mammeri Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison Despite International Appeals

🗓️ Published on: 01/02/2026

Today, the Algerian judicial authorities issued a final ruling sentencing trade unionist Ali Mammeri to ten years in prison, in what constitutes one of the most serious cases concerning trade union freedoms in Algeria in recent years.

Ali Mammeri is a well-known trade union figure and a member of the structures of the Trade Union Confederation of Productive Forces (COSYFOP). For several years, he has been actively engaged in the public defense of social and labor rights, in a context marked by growing repression against independent trade union activity..

A controversial trial

The ruling follows judicial proceedings that, according to trade union and human rights organizations, were marred by serious violations of fair trial standards. These included the almost exclusive reliance on police interrogation reports and the complete disregard of allegations of torture and ill-treatment raised by Mr. Mammeri during the investigation.

Judicial authorities also failed to respond to repeated requests for an independent inquiry into the conditions of his arrest and interrogation, despite the fact that such allegations fall squarely within Algeria’s international obligations, particularly under the Convention against Torture.

Disregard for international interventions

The conviction was handed down despite a broad international solidarity campaign involving international trade union federations and human rights organizations, as well as an official joint communication addressed to the Algerian government by several United Nations Special Rapporteurs.

Several international organizations,including Amnesty International, also called for the charges to be dropped and for Ali Mammeri’s immediate and unconditional release, considering that his prosecution is directly linked to the peaceful exercise of his right to trade union activity.

including Amnesty International, also called for the charges to be dropped and for Ali Mammeri’s immediate and unconditional release, considering that his prosecution is directly linked to the peaceful exercise of his right to trade union activity.

Another severe blow to trade union freedoms

The sentencing of Ali Mammeri to ten years in prison constitutes a dangerous precedent — not only for him personally, but for the entire trade union movement in Algeria. This development occurs in a context where international supervisory bodies, most notably the International Labour Organization (ILO), have already documented systematic violations of the Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Conventions (Nos. 87 and 98).

Observers note that this ruling sends a clear deterrent message to independent trade unionists and confirms the continued preference for repression over social dialogue, in the absence of any genuine political will to implement international recommendations.

statement

The undersigned trade union and human rights organizations strongly condemn the verdict sentencing trade unionist Ali Mammeri to ten years in prison and consider it a political ruling aimed at suppressing free and independent trade union activity, in clear violation of the Algerian Constitution and the country’s international obligations.

The organizations affirm that:

1. Ali Mammeri was convicted solely because of his peaceful trade union activity and not for any criminal conduct;
2. The trial failed to meet the basic standards of fairness, while allegations of torture and ill-treatment were ignored;
3. The ruling constitutes a clear violation of ILO Conventions Nos. 87 and 98;
4. The disregard of the appeals issued by UN Special Rapporteurs reflects a serious contempt for international protection mechanisms.

Accordingly, the organizations demand:

• The immediate and unconditional release of Ali Mammeri;
• The opening of an independent investigation into allegations of torture and abuses surrounding his arrest;
• An end to the criminalization of trade union activity and full protection for workers’ rights defenders;
• The genuine and non-selective implementation of the recommendations of the International Labour Organization.

The continued imprisonment of trade unionists will not bring social stability. On the contrary, it will deepen tensions and further undermine the foundations of justice and legitimacy.