Annaba – Algerian prosecutors on Monday asked a judge to sentence an Amazigh activist 10 years in prison for carrying the Amazigh flag during a protest in Algiers, according to lawyer.
On July 5, Nadir Fetissi, 41-year-old, was arrested during a protests for brandishing an Amazigh flag which was previously banned by Chief Army Ahmed Gaid Salah, on grounds of “undermining national unity.”
Amnesty International condemned the arrests as an “escalating… crackdown on peaceful protesters”.
These arrests are a blatant attack on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly of the Amazigh community,” said Magdalena Mughrabi, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International.
Since 22 February, largely peaceful mass demonstrations led by lawyers, students, journalists and others have been taking place every Friday across Algeria calling for political reform, and nearly 60 people have been arrested and placed in pre-trial detention awaiting trial in several cities in Algeria for the same accusations.[ads2]
