Amira Bouraoui: a Franco-Algerian activist sentenced to 10 years in prison for “illegal exit from the territory”
In a decision condemned by many international voices, Franco-Algerian opponent Amira Bouraoui was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison by the court in Constantine, Algeria, for “illegal exit from the territory”. Alongside her, journalist Mustapha Bendjama was sentenced to six months in prison for helping her escape to France.
Amira Bouraoui, a trained doctor and former figure in the “Hirak” protest movement, defied a ban on leaving the country by crossing the border between Algeria and Tunisia last February. Arrested in Tunis while trying to reach Paris, she finally managed to fly to France three days later with the presumed help of French diplomatic and security personnel.
This in absentia conviction raises many questions about the fairness of the trial and potential human rights violations. Many human rights defenders and international organizations have expressed concern over the convictions and called for their immediate overturning.
The conviction of Mustapha Bendjama, editor-in-chief of a French-speaking newspaper, also raises concerns about press freedom in Algeria. His arrest in February in connection with the Bouraoui affair and his subsequent conviction raised questions about the independence of the country’s judicial system.
By condemning Amira Bouraoui and Mustapha Bendjama, the Algerian authorities seem to want to muzzle protest and repress dissenting voices. However, these convictions risk drawing more international attention to the human rights situation in Algeria and strengthening solidarity with oppressed activists and journalists.
Faced with this new conviction, international and national mobilization for the release of Amira Bouraoui and the protection of human rights in Algeria must intensify. Governments and international institutions must take concrete steps to support human rights defenders and ensure that the fundamental principles of justice and freedom of expression are respected. Algeria’s history is marked by a constant struggle for freedom and justice, and it is essential that this struggle continues for a better future.