On 5 November 2010 Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the Working Group on Enforced or involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), requesting it to intervene with the Algerian authorities on behalf of Mr Abdellahoum.

Although the law requires an investigation to be conducted in case of abduction and sequestration, none has been recorded to this day and despite the family's attempts, the authorities have still not recognized his arrest or detention.

On 11 November 2010, the Mr Abdellahoum's family was allowed to visit him after he was transferred to Bouira prison. His body revealed traces of torture. He also confirmed that he was previously being held in Antar secret detention center in Hydra (Algiers).

Mr Abdellahoum was held in police custody for 26 days - 14 days longer than the legal period of 12 days. He was subjected to torture, his detention was not recognized by the authorities and he was neither allowed contact with a lawyer nor with his family.

The Algerian government is regularly reviewed by UN mechanisms with regards to the issue of secret detention, yet it continues to deny the existence of detention centers outside judicial authority controlled by the Department of intelligence and security.