Opposition Party calls for release of political prisoners in Algeria

The workers’ party (PT), one of the main opposition parties in Algeria, drew a gloomy picture of the human rights situation in the country, calling for the release of political detainees and prisoners of conscience.

In a statement issued after the weekly meeting of the secretariat of its political bureau, the workers’ party called on the authorities “to prevail the interests of the country by enacting the urgent measures of relaxation, starting with the release of political detainees and prisoners of conscience.”

In this connection, the PT expressed “shock” following the heavy sentence of journalist Ihsane El Kadi by the judiciary to five years in prison.

“Beyond the criminalization of the profession of journalism and freedom of expression as well as attacks on democratic freedoms, the repression that strikes the political action, constitute a danger to national sovereignty as it can serve as a pretext for foreign interference,” warned the workers’ party.

It also warned against the dangers lurking behind the presentation to parliament of the bill on the right to strike.

“It is a vicious approach that consists in taking advantage of the month of Ramadan and the distress of the majority of families facing the worst living conditions to pass a second project that liquidates, in fact, the historic role of trade unions, as a framework for organizing workers as a social class and as an instrument of defense of their interests”.