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Amnesty International has sharply criticized Algeria for its “escalating repression” and “arbitrary” arrests and “unfair” legal proceedings in recent months against activists and journalists linked to the “Manich Radi” (I am not satisfied) campaign, according to a statement released by the human rights organization on Thursday.
The international rights group condemned the Algerian authorities for what it called an “escalation of repression” over the past five months, particularly targeting an online protest movement.
Amnesty International described these actions as involving “arbitrary arrests” and “unjust legal actions,” highlighting that at least 23 activists and journalists have been arrested and sentenced, mainly for supporting the online “Manich Radi” protest campaign, launched in December 2024 to denounce human rights restrictions and the difficult socio-economic conditions in the country.
The organization explained that these individuals were detained “simply for peacefully exercising their rights.”
In this context, Heba Morayef, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Office, stated in the same release: “The approach of suppressing online activism followed by Algerian authorities is dangerous and must be changed. Nothing justifies detaining and imprisoning people simply for expressing dissatisfaction with political, social, and economic conditions.”
This crackdown coincided with the upcoming sixth anniversary of Algeria’s pro-democracy protest movement, the Hirak, in February 2025. Amnesty criticized the swift legal procedures that deprived many of the detainees of “adequate time to mount a proper defense.”
The human rights organization specifically pointed to the March sentencing of activists Soheib Dabbagh and Mehdi Baazizi, who were each sentenced to 18 months in prison for their involvement in the “Manich Radi” campaign.
Amnesty International called on the Algerian authorities to “immediately release all those detained simply for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression.”
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