Algerian NGOs created on Saturday February 13 in Algiers a committee to fight against the torture and violence suffered by prisoners of conscience, after accusations of rape that shocked public opinion.
Read also: Algeria: the trial of the assassination of French guide Hervé Gourdel postponed to February 18
The testimony in early February of Walid Nekkiche, a 25-year-old pro-democracy student, who claims to have been tortured and sexually assaulted by members of the security services, aroused indignation and forced the general prosecutor of the Court of Algiers to open a investigation.
In reaction, several associations have decided to organize themselves so that “
justice is done
”, in the form of a “
Committee to fight against torture and inhuman prison conditions of detainees in Algeria
”.
This new organization brings together the National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees (CNLD), the National Coordination of Algerian Academics for Change and the Collective of lawyers for the defense of prisoners of conscience.
“
By reporting his abuse before the magistrates, Walid Nekkiche broke the omerta.
He was of exemplary courage
”, declared representatives of the anti-torture collective during a press conference in Algiers.
It is necessary that “
the torturers are identified and judged.
"
"
Sexually assaulted
" while in custody
Nekkiche was arrested at the end of November 2019 in Algiers during a march by students of the “
Hirak
”, the anti-regime protest movement.
He explained that he was "
sexually, physically and verbally assaulted
" while in custody at the "
Antar center
", a barracks on the outskirts of Algiers known as a place of questioning by the security services.
“
His rape is the rape of all of us as a people, civil society, activists.
It should not go unpunished,
”said journalist Zoheïr Aberkane, member of the Committee.
"
We have filed a complaint and we are asking the courts to intervene according to Algerian and international laws
", added Nacera Hadouche, lawyer.
To read also: The impossible dream of France in Algeria
This case arises in a context of tension in the regime as the second anniversary of the “
Hirak
” approached, triggered on February 22, 2019 and which prompted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign two months later.
"
The preliminary investigation by the prosecution should not be yet another subterfuge to calm anger and indignation
"
and
"
places of torture such as the '' Antar '' barracks must be banned,
" demanded the committee.
According to its organizers, "
the conditions of arrest, incarceration and detention of detainees reported by lawyers confirm cases of mistreatment, violence and torture in various police structures and security services, as well as in prisons
" .
More than 70 people are currently imprisoned in Algeria in connection with the protests of the "
Hirak
" and / or individual freedoms according to the CNLD.
For his part, the Minister of Communication Ammar Belhimer repeated this week that "
there are no prisoners of conscience in Algeria
".
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/VFQFJYOVGFFAJOTNW2NNJRUS3I.jpg)
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/GZBJJXO3EZE2HLSP5ZRRKYYYOY.JPG)
