US/Algeria: Reveal Location of Guantanamo Detainees
Two Algerians Missing Since Their July 2 Return Home
US and Algerian authorities should immediately reveal the whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria on July 2, 2008. The two men, Abderrahmane Houari, 28, and Mustafa Ahmed Hamlily, 49, have been missing since their return.
July 11, 2008 Press Release
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Algeria criticises UK’s human rights record
By Judith Sunderland, Researcher, Europe and Central Asia Division
Published in OpenDemocracy: Our Kingdom
The United Kingdom came in for robust questioning on its human rights record from other UN member states last week at the Human Rights Council, during the historic first session of the Universal Periodic Review Coming at a time when the UK government is trying to pass yet another piece of counterterrorism legislation, which includes extending pre-charge detention to 42 days, it’s no wonder a significant number of countries asked about UK counterterrorism policies. .
April 23, 2008 Commentary
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UN: Mixed Results for New Review Process
States Avoid Serious Discussion of Rights in Algeria, Tunisia
The first session of the new country review mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council was undermined by inconsistencies and the timidity of some governments in reviewing others, Human Rights Watch said today. On April 18, 2008 the council concluded a two-week session in which it examined the records of 16 countries as part of the new Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.
April 18, 2008 Press Release
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Human Rights Council Begins Universal Periodic Review
Will Assess India, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and 12 Others
The UN Human Rights Council will begin a new review process on April 7, 2008. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is the most innovative and ambitious instrument of the council and was set up to assess the human rights performance of all 192 UN member states over a four-year cycle.
April 6, 2008 Memorandum
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Letter to the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference
Urging the Organisation to Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism
Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, we urge the OIC to consider two amendments to the Convention in order to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and to make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications.
March 11, 2008 Letter
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Algeria: Human Rights Lawyers Tried on Dubious Charges
Algerian authorities should drop politically motivated charges against two human rights lawyers when their trial resumes on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch said today.
February 20, 2007 Press Release
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New Zealand: Letter to Prime Minister Clark asking for review of refugee standards
We write to express our concerns with the ongoing delays in reaching a final resolution to the status of Mr. Ahmed Zaoui, an Algerian national recognized by New Zealand’s Refugee Status Appeal Authority as a refugee.
January 24, 2007 Letter
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UN: Rights Body Must Act Now on Darfur
No Room for ‘Darfur Denial’ at Human Rights Council
The December 12 special session of the Human Rights Council on Darfur offers member states a long overdue opportunity to tackle one of the worst human rights crises in the world, Human Rights Watch said today. Yet some council members, such as Algeria, seem more concerned to protect the government of Sudan than to address its responsibility for war crimes in Darfur, Human Rights Watch said.
December 11, 2006 Press Release
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Algeria: Press Freedom at Risk Despite Release of Editor
Despite the welcome release from prison expected today for newspaper director Mohamed Benchicou, critics of Algeria’s government continue to risk reprisal in the form of a barrage of defamation suits and, on occasion, dubious criminal charges, Human Rights Watch said today.
June 14, 2006 Press Release
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Algeria: Between amnesty and amnesia
By Eric Goldstein
Published in Le Temps
Two pieces of good news for Algeria: its population no longer lives in the fear of having their throats cut by militant Islamists during impromptu road blocks, or of being disappeared after police officers break into their homes. At the same time, the national treasury, which was under heavy debt ten years ago as violence raged, is now flooded with petrodollars. To read the entire article in its original French, please click here.
April 19, 2006 Commentary
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Algeria’s Amnesia Decree
By Eric Goldstein, Research Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division
Published in openDemocracy
The Algerian state is repressing open discussion and questioning of the terrible violence of the 1990s, reports Eric Goldstein of Human Rights Watch.
April 10, 2006 Commentary
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Joint NGO Letter On the Occasion of the EU-Algeria Association Council on 20 - 21st March 2006
Human Rights Concerns at the EU-Algeria Association Council
In light of the upcoming first EU-Algeria Association Council Meeting on 20-21st March, the undersigned organizations would like to draw your attention to three key human rights concerns, which we hope you will be able to address with the Algerian authorities.
March 14, 2006 Letter
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U.K.-Algeria Deal to Deport Suspects Is Fig-Leaf for Torture
The United Kingdom cannot deport security suspects at risk of torture to Algeria without violating international law. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said after official talks in Algiers on February 16 that “good progress” had been made on a deportation agreement and that both countries wanted to sign “as soon as possible,” according to Reuters news agency.
March 8, 2006 Press Release
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Abuses risk being repeated with impunity
Interview published in Algerian French-language daily El Watan on March 5, 2006 with Eric Goldstein, research director in the Middle East and North Africa division. The concept of "truth" does not exist in the decree. Even the South African compromise, which provided amnesty for the perpetrators on the condition that they reveal the entire truth about their crimes, is not included in this plan. The decree white-washes crimes committed by all parties, without even the least gesture towards a duty of truth. To view the complete interview in French, please click here
March 8, 2006 Commentary
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Algeria: New Amnesty Law Will Ensure Atrocities Go Unpunished
Muzzles Discussion of Civil Conflict
A presidential decree in Algeria will consecrate impunity for crimes under international law and other human rights abuses, and even muzzle open debate by criminalizing public discussion about the nation’s decade-long conflict, four human rights groups cautioned today.
March 1, 2006 Press Release
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Cartoon Controversy: Drop Criminal Charges for Publication
Jordan, Yemen, Algeria Must Free Journalists
The governments of Jordan, Yemen and Algeria should immediately drop criminal charges against editors and journalists who reproduced controversial caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in their publications, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch also called on Yemen, Algeria and Malaysia to immediately lift bans on newspapers closed in recent days for printing the caricatures.
February 16, 2006 Press Release
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Human Rights Watch World Report 2006
U.S. Policy of Abuse Undermines Rights Worldwide
New evidence demonstrated in 2005 that torture and mistreatment have been a deliberate part of the Bush administration’s counterterrorism strategy, undermining the global defense of human rights, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing its World Report 2006  .
January 18, 2006 Press Release
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U.K.: Detention Plan Amounts to Punishment Without Trial
Draft Antiterrorism Law Raises Serious Human Rights Concerns
The British government’s proposal to extend the period that terrorism suspects can be detained without charge will undermine the rule of law and human rights, Human Rights Watch said today. The proposal is one of several problematic measures contained in draft counterterrorism legislation published yesterday by the Home Office.
September 16, 2005 Press Release
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Small Number of Countries Holding UN World Summit Hostage on Human Rights, Security, Poverty
Human Rights Watch, Oxfam International and Amnesty International call on a small number of “spoiler” countries to stop holding the UN World Summit hostage over crucial measures on human rights, security, genocide and poverty reduction. These governments have thrown negotiations on the final outcome text into crisis just days away from the biggest meeting of world leaders in history, September 14-16 in New York.
September 7, 2005 Press Release
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Impunity in the Name of Reconciliation
Algerian President’s Peace Plan Faces National Vote September 29
On August 15, the government of Algeria published the text of a long-promised “Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation” in the Journal Officiel. This came a day after a major speech by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announcing that Algerians will be asked to approve the Charter in a referendum on September 29.
September 2, 2005 Background Briefing
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