In a serious development reflecting the deterioration of press freedom in Algeria, journalist and human rights defender Hassan Bouras has announced the start of an open-ended hunger strike as of the eve of May 3, 2026, from inside his detention at El Haoud Prison in El Bayadh, in protest against his arbitrary detention and the ongoing deprivation of his fundamental rights.
This announcement was made in a powerful message sent from his prison cell on April 29, 2026, in which he detailed the circumstances of his arrest. He stated that he was apprehended on April 13, 2026, in front of his home by plainclothes security agents, followed by a search of his residence and the intimidation of his family, without any clear legal justification or formal charges, in blatant disregard of fair trial guarantees.
Bouras stressed that what he is facing is part of a recurring pattern of violations, recalling the raid on his home in 2015 carried out in a similar manner, pointing to systematic targeting due to his journalistic and human rights activities. He further affirmed that depriving him of his freedom and silencing his voice will not succeed, declaring that his body has now become his last means of protest against injustice.
He also recalled a previous incident in 2015, when he was detained and went on a hunger strike, during which former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia commented on his protest by stating: “Let him go on a hunger strike if he wishes.” This statement reflects a troubling disregard for detainees’ safety and fundamental rights, and highlights a lack of political will to uphold the right to life and human dignity.
Bouras raised fundamental questions reflecting the depth of the human rights crisis, asking what crime he had committed and whether telling the truth or refusing silence was enough to justify his deprivation of liberty. He also addressed a direct appeal to journalists, warning that remaining silent in the face of the imprisonment of journalists amounts to abandoning the very essence of the profession.
This open-ended hunger strike constitutes a highly serious escalation and places the Algerian authorities before their legal and humanitarian obligations to ensure the safety of Hassan Bouras and protect him from any life-threatening risks, particularly given the severe health consequences associated with such a form of protest.
This protest step reflects the profound deadlock faced by journalists and human rights defenders in Algeria, confirming that resorting to hunger strikes is no longer a choice, but has become an inevitable consequence of the absence of effective remedies and the continued policies of repression and systematic criminalization of freedom of expression.
