Sentences of Fethi Ghares and Merzoug Touati: Riposte Internationale Denounces and Accuses
In a statement made public this Monday, Riposte Internationale expressed its indignation at the sentences handed down to Fethi Ghares and Merzoug Touati. In despair of seeing the authorities amend their ways, the NGO appeals to international bodies to take an interest in the situation of Algerians.
“Fethi Ghares, coordinator of the banned Democratic and Social Movement (MDS), and Merzoug Touati, blogger and activist, have once again suffered arbitrary acts through judgments that reflect the purest cynicism.
Fethi Ghares was sentenced to one year in prison, accompanied by a fine of 200,000 DA, while Merzoug Touati received a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 50,000 DA. These judicial decisions are part of a broader framework of repression against dissenting voices in Algeria.
Riposte Internationale expresses its full solidarity and support for the two individuals and strongly condemns this mockery of justice. These verdicts, far from meeting the standards of justice, are a deliberate manifestation of an intent to suppress political expression and freedom of opinion.
Merzoug Touati, who has consistently called for fundamental rights for his country peacefully, was also subjected to inhuman treatment from the moment of his arrest.
Merzoug Touati suffered physical and psychological torture from the very first day of his detention. Despite his complaint, supported by medical certificates and photos documenting the violence, the Algerian judiciary dismissed the case, citing lack of evidence. This rejection of the complaint reflects a justice system that, rather than protecting citizens’ rights, supports the impunity of state agents responsible for these violations. The silence of judges in the case of Merzoug Touati, as well as in other cases of torture and excesses, shows that the Algerian judiciary is under the control of the executive and the police apparatus.
In addition to their inability to protect human rights, the Algerian authorities are conducting a systematic harassment campaign against Merzoug Touati and all dissenting voices.
Since 2016, this blogger has been the target of unprecedented persecution, not only through unjust sentences but also through repeated attacks and organized smear campaigns on social media. Touati’s detractors do not hesitate to exploit his Kabyle origin to falsely accuse him of collusion with foreign powers. These attacks aim to discredit his struggle for freedom of expression and stigmatize any form of opposition to the regime.
Riposte Internationale condemns this judicial and media harassment, which has no other goal than to crush the will for freedom and democracy expressed by citizens like Merzoug Touati. This young activist, whose commitment is based on peaceful principles, is living a real ordeal, and his family is deeply affected.
Merzoug Touati’s fate is part of a larger tragedy affecting the entire Algerian society, especially after the Hirak movement, which had promised a wind of reforms and renewal. Unfortunately, human rights violations in Algeria have reached alarming proportions in this post-Hirak context, where repression seems to be intensifying against any form of opposition.
Fethi Ghares Sentenced
The Bab El Oued court (Algiers) also sentenced Fethi Ghares, national coordinator of the MDS party, to one year in prison and a fine of 200,000 DA on Sunday. This sentence is part of a judicial harassment campaign that has been ongoing since 2020, when Fethi Ghares, a political figure, was targeted for his political involvement and critical positions against the regime. Since that time, the Algerian judiciary has issued multiple repressive decisions against him, including banning the Democratic and Social Movement (MDS), of which he is the coordinator. The Baïnem court had already requested a three-year prison sentence on January 5, further demonstrating the judicial harassment he has been subjected to. In addition to the prison sentence, Fethi Ghares was ordered to pay 100,000 DA in civil damages and a symbolic dinar to the President of the Republic, an additional violation of his rights.
Riposte Internationale has repeatedly raised alarms about the criminalization of free expression, but the authorities remain deaf to these warnings. Worse, they continue their cynical policy of dismantling the foundations of the rule of law and democracy.
Repeated violations of fundamental freedoms, whether it be freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, or the prohibition of the freedom of association, reveal a climate of terror in which Algerian society finds itself. The authorities are multiplying arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions without trial, and the use of torture against peaceful activists, journalists, and citizens. This echoes a systematic repression against all those who dare to criticize the current regime, whether they are members of civil society, journalists, or ordinary citizens engaged in the struggle for change.
Riposte Internationale is alarmed by the ongoing degradation of the situation and calls on the international community not to turn a blind eye to these blatant human rights violations.
It is our collective responsibility to support those who are fighting for a better future for their country, especially those like Fethi Ghares and Merzoug Touati, who are paying a heavy price for their peaceful commitment to justice and freedom.
International solidarity is an essential lever to pressure the Algerian authorities to respect the fundamental rights of their citizens and put an end to this spiral of repression.
Riposte Internationale reaffirms its unwavering support for Fethi Ghares, Merzoug Touati, and their families, as well as for all political prisoners in Algeria. We are committed to continuing our support and assisting these families in their struggle for recognition of their rights, dignity, and freedom.
The struggle of Merzoug Touati, like that of Fethi Ghares, is the struggle of an entire nation, and our support will not waver until justice and human rights are fully respected.”
