Zaki Hannache
Zaki Hannache is a human rights defender working on documenting violations of human rights in Algeria. After the Hirak movement took hold in 2019, Zaki Hannache worked to collect, verify and document the cases of arrests happening to people who took part in the protests. Zaki Hannache also works to document and advocate for the rights and releases of defenders who were sentenced to imprisonment
The lifting of Algeria’s 19-year state of emergency in early 2011 did not have a positive effect on the situation of human rights defenders (HRDs). Human rights defenders have continued to be subjected to harassment, threats, physical attacks, arbitrary detention and legal proceedings.
Peaceful protests have been forcibly dispersed and protesters and human rights defenders have been arrested and charged. An indefinite 2001 ban on protests continue to remain in force in the capital Algiers. A number of HRDs have been put on trial under Article 100 of the Penal Code, which punishes the incitement of unarmed gathering.
