The organisation SHOAA strongly condemns the series of arbitrary arrests and judicial prosecutions targeting a number of truck drivers in several provinces across Algeria, following their participation in a peaceful strike and protests through which they expressed their rejection of certain provisions of the new traffic law, particularly those that—according to them—place excessive emphasis on punitive measures, posing a direct threat to their livelihoods and professional conditions.
These measures have also included the arrest of citizens and bloggers who documented these peaceful movements and conveyed the protesters’ demands to public opinion, in addition to the initiation of judicial proceedings and the issuance of custodial sentences against some participants. This represents a dangerous escalation that raises serious concerns about the state of public freedoms in Algeria.
While SHOAA affirms that peaceful protest, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and peaceful demonstration, as well as the documentation and publication of events, are rights explicitly guaranteed under Article 52 of the Algerian Constitution, in addition to the international conventions ratified by Algeria, the organisation considers that these arrests and prosecutions constitute a blatant violation of fundamental freedoms and an unjustified attempt to criminalise legitimate social and professional demands.
The arrest of truck drivers for participating in a peaceful strike, and the detention of citizens merely for filming and publishing videos expressing the drivers’ grievances and demands—alongside a discourse of stigmatisation and accusations of involvement in “conspiracies” allegedly undermining public order—serves only to fuel tensions and deepen social unrest, rather than calm the situation and open avenues for dialogue and solutions.
SHOAA believes that a security- and judiciary-based approach to dealing with social protests in Algeria cannot constitute a solution. On the contrary, it leads to increasing restrictions on civic space and contradicts the principles of the rule of law, as well as Algeria’s national and international human rights obligations.
The organisation also expresses serious concern over the continued enactment of laws and legislation, including the new traffic law, without involving stakeholders or opening a serious and transparent dialogue with them. This has widened the trust gap and fuelled social tensions, alongside many other laws that have affected wide segments of Algerian society and are being used as tools to restrict fundamental freedoms.
Accordingly, SHOAA calls for:
- The immediate and unconditional release of all truck drivers and citizens detained in Algeria in connection with the peaceful strike or its documentation.
- The dropping of all judicial prosecutions and custodial sentences related to the exercise of freedom of expression and peaceful protest.
- An end to all forms of criminalisation, stigmatisation, and defamatory rhetoric directed against protesters.
- The opening of a serious and responsible dialogue with representatives of truck drivers and professional bodies to review the provisions of the new traffic law that are widely viewed as unjust, taking into account the social and professional conditions of this group.
SHOAA reiterates its full solidarity with truck drivers and all citizens in Algeria who have peacefully expressed their opinions and demands, stressing that conveying protesters’ voices and documenting their actions is a legitimate right that must not serve as grounds for arrest or prosecution.
In conclusion, SHOAA calls on all active forces in Algerian society—including human rights organisations, trade unions, civil society actors, and independent media—to unite in defence of freedom of expression and peaceful protest, as two fundamental pillars for building a just society based on respect for rights and the rule of law.
