On Wednesday, a European civil society organization accused a researcher in Algeria of revealing sensitive data and embezzling funding to disrupt public order.
According to the Geneva-based Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, after appearing in court over the weekend, senior analyst Raouf Farrah and his father Sebti Farrah, plus seven others were jailed.
Algerian government is yet to address the issue. The arrests are part of an Algerian inquiry into how human rights activist Amira Bouraoui, who was banned from traveling, fled via Tunisia to France last month.
Algeria summons France’s ambassador to discuss his escape. Human rights groups say Algeria suppressed political activists. This was right after military overthrew veteran President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in January 2019. Following massive protest movement in 2019 and 2020.
The Algerian League for the Preservation of Human Rights, Algeria’s oldest independent human rights group, was shut down last month, according to Human Rights Watch.
