KABYLIE (TAMURT) – After several postponements, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of peaceful assembly and association, Clément Nyaletsossi VOULE, has finally been on an official visit to Algiers since last Saturday (September 16 to 26). Its mission is to assess the situation of the rights of peaceful assembly and association in Algeria, with emphasis on the capacity of civil society organizations, unions and political parties to operate freely, as well as on measures aimed at protecting the right to peaceful assembly.
The UN expert is expected to meet Algerian government officials, members of the legislative and judicial authorities, civil society actors, journalists, academics, lawyers, unions and political parties. Mr. Voule is expected to travel to other locations outside the Algerian capital.
The Union for the Kabyle Republic urges the UN Rapporteur to go to Kabylia, which has been experiencing unprecedented multifaceted repression for more than three years. If he wants to assess respect for human rights by the Algerian regime, he must visit Kabylia, meet families of political and opinion detainees, as well as the collective of lawyers who ensure their defense sometimes under intimidation and threats from the Algerian police and judicial authorities.
If the persecution spares no dissenting voice, it must be recognized that Kabyle independence activists are severely repressed. Article 87 bis of the Algerian penal code was precisely promulgated by Algeria to justify its repression of the Kabyles demanding the right to self-determination, yet duly recognized and guaranteed by the Algerian Constitution and the UN charters, ratified by Algeria .
Falsely accused of “terrorism” on the basis of this controversial article, dozens of peaceful independence activists have been arrested, convicted or under trial.
The other worrying situation to which our political movement wishes to draw the attention of the UN expert is that of the Christians of Kabylia. They suffer insidious persecution. Their places of worship are closed by order of the Algerian authorities for “lack of prior authorization”. A document that these same authorities refuse to issue to church leaders. Around thirty Protestant places of worship have been closed for three years, thus depriving thousands of Kabyle Christians of the free exercise of their religion. Many pastors and other church leaders are currently being prosecuted for “exercise of worship without authorization” or for “proselytism” and face prison sentences.
The Union for the Kabyle Republic, which peacefully campaigns for the self-determination of Kabylia, informs the UN expert that respect for the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association is violated in Kabyle land. The legal framework relating to these rights is very restrictive.
We can also mention here the ban in Kabylia on the organization of cultural activities (literary cafés, conference debates, book fairs, etc.) outside official circuits. Additionally, no form of peaceful demonstration or march is permitted.
Therefore, the URK calls on the Special Rapporteur, who will submit a full report on his visit to the Human Rights Council in June 2024, to take into account these serious violations of the right to peaceful assembly and association in Kabylia, committed by the Algerian regime.
Lyazid Abid, Spokesperson of the URK
