Halim Feddal Sentenced
On 3 March 2020, the Criminal Court of Chlef sentenced human rights defender Halim Feddal to six months’ imprisonment for “threatening the unity of the country”, “incitement to an illegal gathering”, and 'publishing materials that affect the national interest'.
On 26 February 2020, during a hearing before the Criminal Court of Chlef, the Public Prosecution requested 18 months' imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 Algerian dinar (approximately 150 euros) for human rights defender Halim Feddal.
On 2 January 2020, human rights defender Halim Feddal was conditionally released, along with several political prisoners.
On 20 November 2019, the Public Prosecution in Chlef ordered the preventive detention of human rights defender Halim Feddal, after he was arbitrarily arrested on 17 November 2019. He had been taking part in a peaceful demonstration demanding the release of a number of Algerian political prisoners.
Halim Feddal is the founder and secretary general of the Algerian National Association Against Corruption (ANLC) which works on exposing and fighting corruption in Algeria. He is also a member of the Hirak Movement, which is a grassroots human rights movement that calls for the promotion of civil and political rights in Algeria. The human rights defender frequently participates in peaceful demonstrations in the city of Chlef.
On 3 March 2020, the Criminal Court of Chlef sentenced human rights defender Halim Feddal to six months’ imprisonment for “threatening the unity of the country”, “incitement to an illegal gathering”, and 'publishing materials that affect the national interest'.
On 2 January 2020, he was conditionally released after spending 48 days in detention. The poor detention conditions caused him several health issues.
On 26 February 2020, during a hearing before the Criminal Court of Chlef, the Public Prosecution requested 18 months' imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 Algerian dinar (approximately 150 euros) for human rights defender Halim Feddal. The Court postponed the ruling until 3 March 2020. The human rights defender was conditionally released on 2 January 2020.
On 2 January 2020, human rights defender Halim Feddal was conditionally released, along with several political prisoners. He still faces the charges of "threatening the unity of the country” and “incitement of an illegal gathering”. His court hearing is scheduled to be held on 26 February 2020.
On 20 November 2019, the Public Prosecution in Chlef ordered the preventive detention of human rights defender Halim Feddal, after he was arbitrarily arrested on 17 November 2019. He had been taking part in a peaceful demonstration demanding the release of a number of Algerian political prisoners.
Halim Feddal is the founder and secretary general of the Algerian National Association Against Corruption (ANLC) which works on exposing and fighting corruption in Algeria. He is also a member of the Hirak Movement, which is a grassroots human rights movement that calls for the promotion of civil and political rights in Algeria. The human rights defender frequently participates in peaceful demonstrations in the city of Chlef.
On 17 November 2019, Halim Feddal was arrested by security forces in plain clothes from a peaceful demonstration that he was attending in front of the court in Chlef. The protesters were demonstrating against the politically motivated detention of some members of the Hirak movement. Halim Feddal was taken to a local police station where he spent three days under interrogation and was not allowed to contact his lawyer or his family. On 20 November 2019, the Public Prosecution charged him with “threatening the unity of the country” and “incitement of an illegal gathering”. The Public Prosecution ordered preventive detention for Halim Feddal without scheduling a date for his court hearing.
Human rights defenders in Algeria are continually harassed and arbitrarily detained by the authorities. Halim Feddal has frequently been called to the police station and interrogated about his human rights work. Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned about the detention and harassment of Halim Feddal, and finds the general crackdown on human rights defenders in Algeria increasingly worrying. Front Line Defenders believes that Halim Feddal is being detained solely as a result of his peaceful and legitimate human right work.
