On Thursday, 30 July 2026, the Ain Beida Court in the wilaya of Oum El Bouaghi sentenced rapper Amine Bougandoura, known by his stage name “Guns,” to three (3) years’ imprisonment and ordered his immediate detention. He was prosecuted on several charges stemming from a rap song in which he criticized the political and social situation in Algeria, including the parliamentary elections held on 2 July 2026. The Public Prosecutor had requested a sentence of seven (7) years’ imprisonment.
Amine Bougandoura was arrested by security forces on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, and was brought before the Public Prosecutor at the Ain Beida Court the following morning. The prosecutor referred him for trial under the immediate appearance procedure, and the court delivered its judgment the same day, ordering his immediate detention.
This conviction comes amid the continued use of criminal prosecutions and custodial sentences against individuals for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, including through artistic and creative works. Criminalizing artistic expression and imprisoning artists because of their work violates the right to freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It also runs contrary to the constitutional guarantees protecting freedom of expression and reflects the continued use of criminal law to suppress critical and peaceful expression in Algeria.
