Algeria: Arbitrary Travel Bans Imposed on Dissidents
“Human Rights Watch” and “MENA Rights Group” published on 03.02.2025 a damning report on the systematic repression carried out by Algerian authorities against dissidents, arbitrarily targeting activists, journalists, academics, and other government critics. These arbitrary travel bans have become a recurring tactic used to stifle any political opposition. The authorities have been accused of violating citizens’ fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and freedom of association.
The travel bans imposed by Algerian authorities do not follow any clear legal framework, often being issued without official notification or legal justification. These restrictive measures primarily affect those perceived as critics of the government, whether they are civil society activists, opposition leaders, or journalists. In most cases, these bans are imposed without respecting the requirements of Algerian law or international standards on freedom of movement.
The Human Rights Watch report highlights that these bans have dramatic consequences, separating families, affecting professional careers, and harming the mental health of those targeted. By preventing citizens from freely expressing their opinions or participating in activist actions abroad, the Algerian government seeks to annihilate any form of dissent and create a climate of fear. Among the victims are journalists like Mustapha Bendjama and activists like Kaddour Chouicha, both of whom were repeatedly prevented from leaving the country without valid explanation.
Algerian authorities have been criticized for their lack of transparency. In many cases documented by Human Rights Watch and MENA Rights Group, those affected only learned of the travel ban when they attempted to leave the country, often with no clear legislative basis or written notification. In some cases, courts have also rejected the victims’ legal appeals, citing a lack of formal evidence.
Human Rights Watch urges the Algerian authorities to end these arbitrary practices and respect fundamental human rights. Article 49 of the Algerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to leave and enter the country, and any restriction on this right must be explicitly justified and temporary. However, these travel bans appear to have deviated from their initial purpose and become tools of political persecution.
Algerian authorities should not have the power to impose travel bans without the authorization of a judge and without a transparent legal process. NGOs are also calling for the government to amend its practices to align with international standards on freedom of movement, and for the bans to be lifted for activists and journalists exercising their constitutional rights.
Moreover, Human Rights Watch has documented cases of people such as Merzoug Touati, Karim Djidjeli, and Samir Larabi, who have also been subject to travel bans without justification and have seen their rights violated. In several of these cases, the bans have been extended without valid reason, demonstrating the politicization of the judicial system for political purposes.
In response to the concerns raised by these practices, international human rights organizations have urged the Algerian authorities to lift all travel bans and end this repression against dissidents. The authorities must respect Algeria’s international commitments, particularly under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees every person the right to leave their country.
In conclusion, this situation highlights the worsening repression in Algeria and the growing use of travel bans as a method of repressing dissent. Human rights violations are systematic, and the authorities must end these practices to ensure true freedom of movement for all Algerian citizens.