Larbi Tahar, an Algerian human rights defender born in 1968, was arrested on September 18, 2024. He served as president of the El Abiodh Sidi Cheikh section of the Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights. His detention is linked to his critical social media posts addressing the exploitation of natural resources and political repression in Algeria, particularly pertaining to foreign investors’ activities in his region.
His first legal trouble stemmed from several posts made in 2023, where he vocally critiqued the Algerian government and foreign practices harmful to the environment. Larbi highlighted how Qatari nationals exploited land in El Bayadh for hunting, pushing local residents away from grazing their livestock. He analogised these developments to a modern incarnation of colonialism and touched upon the Hirak uprising of 2019, focusing on the repression and unjust accusations faced by his fellow citizens.
During an April 2023 interrogation, Larbi raised concerns about the unregulated hunting practices and the neglect of local livestock infrastructure. He condemned policies that forced the displacement of locals in favour of foreign hunters, underscoring systemic injustices faced by his community.
A second case emerged from three social media posts where he humorously questioned the legitimacy of the Algerian presidential election held on September 7, 2024. Following his indictment for supposedly insulting the president and undermining national interests, Larbi faced a trial that culminated in a harsh 15-year prison sentence, which was later reduced to four years on appeal.
Larbi’s ongoing struggles for human rights and freedom of expression have been met with repeated arrests since 2001, showcasing a troubling pattern of governmental repression. MENA Rights Group deems his detention arbitrary, reinforcing the notion that such actions infringe upon fundamental rights. They submitted his case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on February 4, 2025, advocating for the recognition of his plight as a defender of human rights.
Larbi Tahar, a prominent Algerian human rights defender, was arrested on September 18, 2024, due to critical social media posts regarding foreign exploitation of natural resources and political repression in Algeria. He faced charges for insulting the president and undermining national interests, resulting in a sentence of four years in prison. His case epitomises the systematic repression against activists in Algeria, prompting MENA Rights Group to seek international intervention from the UN.
The case of Larbi Tahar highlights the perils faced by human rights defenders in Algeria, particularly in relation to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. His arrest reflects broader governmental efforts to suppress dissent, raising critical questions about human rights practices in the country. MENA Rights Group’s initiative to present his case to the UN underscores the urgency of addressing such violations and recognising the fundamental rights of activists like Larbi.
Original Source: menarights.org
