Algeria’s authorities have stepped up their crackdown against the Kabyle activists and members of the Movement for the self determination of Kabylie (MAK), a movement seeking the Self-Determination of Kabylia that the Algerian government considers a terrorist organization.
The Algerian ruling elite has accused MAK for the devastating wildfires that killed at least 65 people in the Kabyle region, east of Algiers, last month which hit mostly Amazigh-speaking Kabyle provinces including Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia. MAK, whose leadership is based in France, has denied any involvement. “The recent crackdown on peaceful dissent follows a long-established pattern of efforts to silence and repress the Kabylian population.” said Mr. Ferhat Mehenni, President of MAK.
In total, at least 40 activists are currently in detention in Algeria in connection with the peaceful movement, according to the National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees (CNLD), a local watchdog group.
These prosecutions are the latest in the Algerian authorities’ ongoing repression of rights defenders and targeting of journalists and prominent figures in MAK. However, this is the first time that terrorism-related charges are being used. Other charges include also “offending public bodies” and “defamation”, under articles 146 and 298 of the Penal Code.
In response, MAK have recently filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to the systematic repression of Kabylians, which also highlights the acute failures of the Algerian authorities response to Covid-19 and the recent forest fires in the region which killed dozens.
Meanwhile, dozens of members from the Kabyle community living in diaspora and their counterpart supporter from the Amazigh community have held several rallies around the world including Paris and Montreal to denounce the ongoing crackdown on MAK activists and their supporters by Algerian authorities.
Algeria is ranked 146th out of 180 countries and territories on the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index.
