Court of appeal confirms the three-year prison sentence of human rights defenders Slimane Bouhafs and Kamira Nait Sid
On 4 July 2023, a court of appeal in Algiers confirmed the three-year prison sentence of human rights defenders Slimane Bouhafs and Kamira Nait Sid, in addition to confirming the fine of DZD 100,000 (approx. EUR 660). The charges against both human rights defenders include “belonging to a terrorist organisation”; “receiving funds from abroad for the purpose of political propaganda”; “hate speech and discrimination”; “use of technology to spread false information”; and “conspiracy”, among others.
On 24 August 2021, woman human rights defender Kamira Nait Sid was abducted from her home in Draa-Ben-Kheddaas in northern Algeria and detained at an unknown location without any contact with her family or a lawyer for three days. On the morning of 1 September 2021, the woman human rights defender accompanied by her lawyers was presented to the Public Prosecutor and later to the investigation judge at Sidi M'Hamed Court in Alger. The charges brought against Kamira Nait Sid include "undermining national unity and state security” and “belonging to a terrorist organization" under Article 87 bis of the Penal code which carry penalties ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment and the death penalty. She is currently detained at the Kolea Prison in the province of Tipaza.
Kamira Nait Sid is the co-president of the World Amazigh Congress (WAC), an international NGO defending the rights of the Amazigh people. The mission of the WAC is to ensure the defence and promotion of political, economic, social, cultural, historical and civil rights of the Amazigh people. Within the framework of its international activities, the WAC regularly presents alternative reports concerning the situation of the rights of the Amazighs, before the various specialized bodies of the United Nations (in particular those dealing with questions of racism and discrimination, political, economic, social, cultural and linguistic rights, women's rights, and children's rights).
On 4 July 2023, a court of appeal in Algiers confirmed the three-year prison sentence of human rights defenders Slimane Bouhafs and Kamira Nait Sid, in addition to confirming the fine of DZD 100,000 (approx. EUR 660). The charges against both human rights defenders include “belonging to a terrorist organisation”; “receiving funds from abroad for the purpose of political propaganda”; “hate speech and discrimination”; “use of technology to spread false information”; and “conspiracy”, among others.
Slimane Bouhafs is a human rights defender advocating for freedom of expression and democracy in Algeria through social media. He is the Chairman of the St. Augustine Coordination of Christians in Algeria which defends minority rights and freedom of religion in the country. Kamira Nait Sid is a woman human rights defender and co-president of the World Amazigh Congress (WAC), an international NGO defending the rights of the Amazigh people. The mission of the WAC is to ensure the defence and promotion of political, economic, social, cultural, historical and civil rights of the Amazigh people.
The human rights defender Slimane Bouhafs, who was granted refugee status in Tunisia before being illegally transferred back to Algeria, received the same three-year prison sentence as the one previously handed down at the first instance. Meanwhile, the woman human rights defender Kamira Nait Sid received a three-year prison sentence, which was a two-year reduction of the original sentence handed down by the court of first instance.
Both Slimane Bouhafs and Kamira Nait Sid reject and deny all the charges against them and maintain that they have been targeted because of their peaceful human rights work and advocacy for freedom of expression and belief. The defence counsel, which represented both human rights defenders, reportedly emphasised the lack of due process and fair trial guarantees during the trial and the appeal processes, including a lack of evidence supporting the charges.
In December 2022, Slimane Bouhafs and Kamira Nait Sid were sentenced to three and five years respectively by the court of first instance mainly on the basis of an alleged association with the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK), classified as a terrorist group by the Algerian authorities. The human rights defenders continue to deny any involvement with the MAK group.
The two human rights defenders have been arbitrarily detained since the summer of 2021. On 25 August 2021, the human rights defender Slimane Bouhafs was abducted, subjected to ill-treatment and forcibly returned to Algeria from Tunisia, where he had been granted refugee status, in a gross violation of international law. On 24 August 2021, the woman human rights defender Kamira Nait Sid was also abducted by Algerian security forces from her home in Draa-Ben-Kheddaas in northern Algeria and detained at an unknown location. On 1 September 2021, the two human rights defenders appeared before an investigating judge in an Algerian court to be charged with several terrorism-related accusations based on an alleged connection with the MAK.
Front Line Defenders condemns the confirmation of the sentence of human rights defenders Slimane Bouhafs and Kamira Nait Sid and calls on the authorities of Algeria to immediately release them and quash their conviction as it believes that it is solely motivated by their legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights. It urges the authorities to guarantee the physical and psychological security and integrity of the human rights defenders while in detention.
Front Line Defenders also calls on the authorities to cease targeting all human rights defenders in Algeria and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
On 24 August 2021, woman human rights defender Kamira Nait Sid was abducted from her home in Draa-Ben-Kheddaas in northern Algeria and detained at an unknown location without any contact with her family or a lawyer for three days. On the morning of 1 September 2021, the woman human rights defender accompanied by her lawyers was presented to the Public Prosecutor and later to the investigation judge at Sidi M'Hamed Court in Alger. The charges brought against Kamira Nait Sid include "undermining national unity and state security” and “belonging to a terrorist organization" under Article 87 bis of the Penal code which carry penalties ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment and the death penalty. She is currently detained at the Kolea Prison in the province of Tipaza.
Kamira Nait Sid is the co-president of the World Amazigh Congress (WAC), an international NGO defending the rights of the Amazigh people. The mission of the WCA is to ensure the defence and promotion of political, economic, social, cultural, historical and civil rights of the Amazigh people. Within the framework of its international activities, the WAC regularly presents alternative reports concerning the situation of the rights of the Amazighs, before the various specialized bodies of the United Nations (in particular those dealing with questions of racism and discrimination, political, economic, social, cultural and linguistic rights, women's rights, and children's rights).
On 24 August 2021, woman human rights defender Kamira Nait Sid was abducted by Algerian security forces from her home in Draa-Ben-Khedda, near Tizi Ouzou, in northern Algeria. She was reported as missing by her family for 8 days before the security services confirmed that she was in police custody in Alger. On 1 September 2021, accompanied by her lawyers, she was presented to the Public Prosecutor and to the investigation judge at Sidi M'hamed Court in Algers, who issued an arrest warrant against her. She was indicted with over eight charges, including "undermining national unity and state security" and “belonging to a terrorist organization” referring to Article 87 bis of the Penal Code. If convicted, Kamira Nait Sid could face 10 years imprisonment to life imprisonment and/or the death penalty. On 29 August 2021, the woman right defender's Zina Nait Sid was also arrested by security forces without presenting a warrant. The family believe that her arrest is linked to her sister's work as a human rights defender. Zina Nait Sid was released on the following day without any charges.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the unlawful arrest and detention of the woman human rights defender Kamira Nait Sid and as it is believes that she is being targeted for ther legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights.
