Human Rights Watch has denounced the systematic violations of freedom of speech, assembly & association despite constitutional amendments guaranteeing these rights. Algerian authorities continued to resort in 2017 to criminal prosecutions for peaceful speech. They have also continued to ban demonstrations in Algiers, says HRW in its report 2018. The document says Algerian authorities routinely violate the right to freedom of assembly, using the penal code, which punishes organizing or participating in an unauthorized demonstration in a public place with up to one year in prison. Authorities in Algiers, the capital, banned public demonstrations indefinitely in 2001, when the country was under a state of emergency.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 18, 2018 11:48 UTC