Algeria : Free all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience ! By CMA, AmazighWorld.org Date : 2020-04-07 15:42:00 Karim Tabbou, a political opponent of the Algerian regime was sentenced on 24 March 2020 by the Algiers Court of Appeal to one year in prison and a fine of fifty thousand Algerian Dinars. He had been arrested in September 2019 and charged with "incitement to violence" and "undermining national security" following his statements in which he criticized the army's interference in politics. In fact, Karim Tabbou only peacefully used his freedom of opinion and expression. In view of the Algerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and opinion (in particular articles 38 and 42), and international law (in particular article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), Karim Tabbou should never have been arrested and imprisoned. Moreover, numerous credible testimonies claim that the rights of the accused were not respected and that his trial did not take place in fair conditions (the accused was ill, could not be heard, his lawyers were absent). Consequently, the Amazigh World Congress (CMA) demands the immediate release of Karim Tabbou and the cancellation of all charges against him. In addition, the CMA demands compensation from the State for the damages suffered by Karim Tabbou. The CMA deplores the alignment of the position of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) with that of the Algerian judiciary despite the "violation of the principles of fairness and transparency" denounced in particular by the Bar Council of Algiers, the Algerian League for Human Rights and Amnesty International. In view of Karim Tabbou's uncertain state of health, the CMA warns the Algerian government against any unfortunate consequences of his continued detention. The CMA and public opinion have not forgotten the death in prison of Kamel-Eddine Fekhar on 28 May 2019. Furthermore, at a time when countries around the world are emptying their prisons due to the covid-19 pandemic, CMA calls for the immediate release of all political and opinion prisoners in Algeria and all Tamazgha countries. The CMA is thinking in particular of Nasser Zefzafi and his comrades arbitrarily detained in Morocco. And once again, the World Amazigh Congress calls on international bodies (UN, AU, EU) to urgently take all necessary measures to ensure that States respect their obligations with regard to the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms. Paris, 18/03/2970 – 30/03/2020 The Board of CMA.

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