SHOAA for Human Rights expresses its deep shock and condemnation of the court ruling issued by the Oum El Bouaghi Court on October 29, 2025, sentencing Algerian trade unionist Ali Mammeri to fifteen (15) years in prison on charges of “glorifying terrorist acts” and “publishing classified information through electronic communication means.”
The organization considers this verdict a flagrant violation of trade union freedom and human rights in Algeria, and a blatant misuse of anti-terrorism legislation to criminalize peaceful and legitimate union activity.
Mr. Ali Mammeri, President of the National Union of Culture Employees and member of the Confederation of Productive Forces Trade Unions (COSYFOP), was arrested on March 19, 2025 from his workplace and held for several days in an undisclosed location, without access to his lawyer or family — a clear breach of constitutional safeguards and legal procedures enshrined in Algerian law and international standards.
During his detention, credible reports indicated that he was subjected to physical and psychological ill-treatment aimed at extracting confessions later used against him in court — a grave violation of the prohibition of torture as stated in Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention against Torture, to which Algeria is a party.
SHOAA affirms that this ruling reinforces serious concerns regarding respect for fair-trial guarantees, including the presumption of innocence, the right to defense, and the prohibition of coerced confessions. It also reflects a worrying trend of restricting freedom of association and peaceful expression through the abusive application of counter-terrorism laws beyond their legitimate scope.
The organization reminds the Algerian authorities that the right to trade-union freedom is guaranteed under ILO Convention No. 87, and that punishing trade unionists for legitimate activities constitutes a direct violation of Algeria’s international obligations.
In light of the above, SHOAA for Human Rights calls for:
The immediate and unconditional release of trade unionist Ali Mammeri and the annulment of the verdict against him.
An independent and transparent investigation into allegations of torture and ill-treatment during his detention.
Guaranteeing respect for trade-union freedoms and ending all forms of harassment against human-rights defenders and trade-unionists in Algeria.
Urging international, regional, and national organizations to closely monitor the case and press the Algerian authorities to uphold their international human-rights commitments.
SHOAA concludes by stressing that the conviction of a trade-union activist for peaceful activities represents a serious setback for freedom of expression and association in Algeria, undermining confidence in the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
