SHOAA for Human Rights expresses its strong condemnation and deep concern over the arbitrary action taken by the Algerian authorities on July 30, 2025, which resulted in the expulsion of Mrs. Nassera Dutour, President of the Collective of Families of the Disappeared in Algeria (CFDA) and member of the Euro-Mediterranean Federation Against Enforced Disappearances (FEMED), upon her arrival at Houari Boumediene Airport in Algiers.
This measure constitutes a blatant violation of the Algerian Constitution, particularly Article 49, which guarantees every citizen the right to choose their place of residence, move freely within the country, and enter and leave the national territory. These rights may only be restricted by a reasoned judicial decision and for a limited period.
The expulsion of Mrs. Dutour occurred without any legal justification or judicial order, and thus also represents a flagrant breach of international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998).
Mrs. Nassera Dutour is not only an Algerian citizen entitled to return to her homeland unconditionally, but also a committed human rights defender who has dedicated over a quarter of a century to uncovering the truth about enforced disappearances in Algeria—crimes that affected thousands during the so-called “Black Decade.” Her expulsion constitutes a direct attack on the memory of the victims and on the struggle of their families to uncover the truth and achieve justice.
SHOAA for Human Rights affirms the following:
- Its total rejection of this arbitrary measure, which sets a dangerous precedent for the repression of human rights defenders in Algeria.
- Its full solidarity with Mrs. Nassera Dutour, and its appreciation for her courageous struggle for truth and justice.
- Its call on the Algerian authorities to immediately reverse this illegal decision and guarantee her right to move freely and safely without harassment or reprisal for her legitimate human rights work.
- The attempt to silence the memory of the victims by expelling its voices will not erase the truth, nor will it extinguish the flame of struggle that still burns in the hearts of thousands of Algerian families demanding to know the fate of their loved ones and to see justice served.
