Malik Riahi

Cases

Relevant SG report

From Country

Country Geolocation

Latitude: 28.033886

Longitude: 1.659626

From Region

UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report

Individual's/organization's activity: human rights defenders who actively participated in the Hirak (“movement” in Arabic)

Type of rights defended

Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?: No

Reported trigger of reprisal: meetings with the Special Rapporteur on freedom of association and peaceful assembly during his official visit to Algeria from 16 to 26 September 2023

Engagement with UN body

Type of attempted engagement

Meeting with UN officials during country visit / with locally present UN officials

Reprisal information: On 19 September 2023, Mr. Riahi, Mr. Qasim Saeed and Ms. Chahrazad Ben Fryawa met the Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and association in a hotel in the wilaya of Oran. As they were leaving the venue of the meeting, they were reportedly followed by a car driven by people in civilian clothes. The following day, Mr. Riahi was summoned to a police station and questioned about the meeting with the Special Rapporteur. The three individuals are human rights defenders who actively participated in the Hirak (“movement” in Arabic) (DZA 5/2023)

Types of reprisals suffered

Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?: No

Government response content: On 28 January 2024, the Government responded to mandate-holders on Mr. Riahi’s case noting that the public prosecutor opened a preliminary investigation in September 2023 after Mr. Riahi posted on social media, alleging that he incited attacks on public order and national unity. The Government informed that on 7 December 2023, Mr. Riahi was prosecuted under article 96 of the Criminal Code. On 10 January 2024, the magistrate dismissed the case and charges in favour of the accused. The prosecution appealed. Noting that the preliminary investigation had been initiated before the arrival in Algeria of the Special Rapporteur, the Government stated that there is no link between this meeting and the questioning of Mr. Riahi.

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?: No

Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?: No

Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?: No

Follow up information provided in SG report 0: Regarding Mr. Riahi, according to information received by OHCHR during the reporting period, Mr. Riahi faced four different criminal proceedings before different Courts. Reportedly, he was arrested on 22 February 2025, subsequently charged under article 146, 144 bis, 196 bis, and 87 bis of the Penal Code and remains in pre-trial detention at Kolea prison in connection to these charges. In a separate proceeding, he was sentenced on 19 May 2024 to two years imprisonment and a fine of 500.000 dinars, which was confirmed by the Court of Appeal of Aïn Témouchen. Although he was convicted, there was no committal order. In another proceeding at the Sidi Mhamed Court, on 10 October 2024, the public prosecutor requested a sentence of three years imprisonment under articles 196, 100 and 96 of the Penal Code. On 8 December 2024, Mr. Riahi was sentenced to 18 months in prison by the criminal division of the Couria Court under article 146 bis and 183 of the Penal Code. At the time of writing, Mr. Riahi remains in prison based on the first case described above.

#EndReprisals