A/HRC/57/60 autonome du personnel de l’administration publique (SNAPAP). On 17 September 2023, Mr. Manseri met with the Special Rapporteur and the following days shared information about the meeting and the visit on his Facebook account and on a TV channel (DZA 5/2023). 15. On 8 October 2023, Mr. Manseri was detained and questioned about his meeting with the Special Rapporteur. On 11 October 2023, the public prosecutor charged him with “publication of information prejudicial to national unity” under Article 97 of the Penal Code and “membership of a terrorist group” under Article 87 bis of the Penal Code, in connection with his contacts with international organisations or organisations likely to prejudice national security. On the same day, he was remanded into custody (DZA 5/2023). 16. On 2 December 2023, during her official visit to Algeria, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders met with Mr. Manseri in prison. She noted that she had received information that a picture of him meeting the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Peaceful Assembly had been included in his case file and expressed concern that such a meeting could be used to build a terrorism case against a human rights defender.7 17. On 28 January 2024, the Government responded 8 to mandate holders noting that security services had detected social media activity by Mr. Manseri with links to a terrorist organisation. The Government informed that the facts had been reclassified under articles 79, 100 and 196 bis (par. 1) of the Penal Code regarding national integrity, security, and public order. The Government further informed that on 14 January 2024, Mr. Manseri had been released after a criminal court found him guilty of the charges and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment, including three months’ suspended sentence, and a fine of 50,000 Algerian dinars. 18. According to information received by OHCHR, on 17 January 2024, Mr. Manseri appealed the Court decision. The appeal hearing was scheduled for 27 March but was postponed to 15 June 2024. 19. 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). 20. On 28 January 2024, the Government responded9 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. 21. Regarding the allegations concerning Mr. Qasim Saeed and Ms. Chahrazad Ben Fryawa, the Government noted that meetings with the Special Rapporteur were held openly and without restrictions. It also noted that no specific and reliable information was provided to substantiate the allegations and those concerned did not lodge any complaints with the authorities. 7 8 9 20 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/12/algeria-continued-restrictions-human-rightsdefenders-undermine-social and 20231205-eom-algeria-sr-defenders-en.pdf (ohchr.org). See Government reply at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=38101. See Government reply at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=38101. GE.24-14259