25 November 2011

Algeria: Human rights activist arrested in Algiers

Update: Nassima Guettal was released on 25 November 2011 at 13:00

Nassima Guettal, a human rights activist and a founding member of the National Front for Change (FCN), was arrested this morning by the police. She had undertaken a hunger strike in Algiers in the Place 1st May.

This young engineer and technician decided to begin a hunger strike today in protest of the recent attacks on human rights, especially committed against Mohamed Nadjar, Bachir Belharchaoui, and Noureddine Belmouhoub.

A few minutes after she began the strike, she was apprehended by the police "to verify her identity" and was asked to accompany them to the police station. At this time, she has not been released from custody and is still in the local commissariat of the 4th municipal district of the Place 1st May. There is no doubt that her arrest was due to her exercise of her right to the freedom of expression and is a direct consequence of her activism on behalf of human rights.

Alkarama has notified today in urgency the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders to inform her of this situation and call upon the Algerian authorities to release her immediately.