Algeria: Release of two leaders from the Hirak protest movement

Two main leaders of Algeria Hirak Protest movement will be released soon from the President’s initiative, a leader of the opposition party told. Since March 7, Karim Tabbou, a veteran opposition figure and secretary-general of Algeria’s Socialist Forces Front (FFS), has been detained for a one-year term for an “attack on the integrity of national territory”. Samir Benlarbi has been held in preventive detention.

Sosiane Djilali gave his statement on Tuesday that,” President Abdelmadjid Tebboune assured me that he would use his constitutional privilege to ensure that Tabbou and Benlarbi recover their freedom.” Tabbou, who had become 47 years old on Tuesday, is one of the most well-known figures, if not the best-known, of the Hirak movement which led to the vanquishing last April of current President Abdelaziz Bouteflika after 20 years in power. Anti-government protests on a regular basis shocked Algeria for more than a year and only came to a stop in March due to the Covid-19 outbreak, with the authorities prohibiting marches.

Data source: Ministry of Algeria