On Thursday, 9 July 2026, the investigating judge at the Azzazga Court in Tizi Ouzou ordered the pre-trial detention of journalist Mourad Atmimou, following his arrest on 7 July by plainclothes security officers in the town of Azzazga. His mobile phones and electronic devices were seized for forensic examination.
According to available information, the prosecution stems from social media posts in which Atmimou criticized the recent legislative elections.
Atmimou is being prosecuted on charges of “glorification of terrorism” under Article 87 bis of the Algerian Penal Code, “offending State symbols,” and “promoting ideas likely to incite hatred within society” under Article 34 of Law No. 20-05 on the Prevention and Combating of Discrimination and Hate Speech. The use of these legal provisions in cases involving peaceful expression raises growing concerns about the expanding criminalization of freedom of opinion and expression, an issue that has repeatedly been highlighted by UN experts and international human rights organizations.
This case comes amid a broader pattern of judicial proceedings targeting journalists, activists, and human rights defenders for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, reflecting an increasingly restrictive environment for civic space and media freedom in Algeria.
The continued use of pre-trial detention and security-related or hate speech charges in cases involving peaceful expression raises serious concerns regarding Algeria’s compliance with its international human rights obligations, particularly under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees freedom of expression and press freedom. Human rights organizations call on the Algerian authorities to refrain from using criminal legislation to restrict journalism or prosecute individuals for peacefully expressing their opinions, and to ensure full respect for fair trial guarantees and the rule of law.
