Washington D.C.–ALGERIA IMPRISONS, CONDEMNS TO LIFE AND DEATH SENTENCE INNOCENTS WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE. IT KILLS KABYLIANS AND KABYLIA SLOWLY, IN A TOTAL SILENCE, IN A GENERAL INDIFFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AND OPINION.

At a time when the whole world has its eyes focused on the tragic events which are shaking the Middle East, Ukraine and other hot spots on the planet, the Algerian military regime is doubling down ferocity and savagery against its citizens, particularly by implementing a steady scorched-earth policy in Kabylia, founded on racism and discrimination.

Evidence about the discriminatory and racist nature of this terrorist policy is blatant. Thus, the Algerian state’s vilified goal is to offer Kabylia and the Kabylians a popular vindictiveness by overwhelming them with all evils. The reason behind this demoniac plan is, on one hand, to revive the latent anti-kabylism feeling that is skillfully maintained in the Algerian society to neutralize Kabylia which is known for its dissidence against the Algerian military regime. On the other hand, to exonerate itself from any responsibility regarding the dramatic situation in which it has led Algeria, politically, economically, and on the terms of human rights violations.

The first evidence is the arson attacks in summer 2021 and 2023, which engulfed and devastated two-thirds of the territory of Kabylia, resulted in killing of over 500 hundred people, and triggered an ecocide that damaged enormous losses of Kabylia’s fauna and flora.

Because the Algerian military regime was faced with blatant evidence about its direct involvement in setting fires in Kabylia, such as, sulfur traces, white phosphorus usage, helicopters launching incendiary fireballs, and military drones triggering fires at regular intervals in inaccessible and dense forest areas.Therefore, the military junta tried to turn the situation around by staging the lynching of young Arabic-speaking Algerian (Djamel Bensmaïl) in Larvâa N’At Yiraten who came to Kabylia to ‘help’, to put out the fires like hundreds of other citizens.

In fact, the lynching of Djamel Bensmaïl was obviously orchestrated and manipulated by the Algerian intelligence services, backed, and reinforced by the Algerian media in so far as they are under a total control of the Algerian military power, which served to conceal this horrendous crime that was exploited as a charge to accuse the MAK–Movement for Kabylia Self-determination–of having triggered the fires and, later, lynched and burned Djamel Bensmaïl in the village square with the aim of creating an effect of astonishment through horror and inhumanity. In addition to the MAK movement, Morocco and Israel were accused of being involved in blazes that engulfed Kabylia.

Subsequently, two pretense trials have taken place, condemning over 70 people to death penalty and dozens with heavy sentences. On trial appeal, in October 2023, 38 death sentences were upheld– 5 others pronounced in absentia –and dozens heavy sentences handed down in an expedited and unfair trial in which the defense was flouted. Moreover, not a day goes by without a Kabylian independence activist being arrested, without a conviction being pronounced in absentia or in presence for almost 3 years by the Algerian judiciary system which has been completely exploited and subservient to the different clans of the Algerian regime which are waging a fierce and inflammatory war against their political and economical interests.

Arrests, kidnappings, torture, humiliation, and imprisonment without any fair trials have become the daily routine of Kabylians. Lawyers who defend Kabylia’s detainees are subject to prosecution, pressure and intimidation which limit their work, and quell their freedom of speech.

In June 2021, the Algerian dictatorship regime modified the penal code by creating article –87 bis–which allows a very broad definition of “terrorism”or “sabotage”, any call to “change the system of governance”. However, this article was unanimously denounced by some democratic countries and by UN representatives because it is against fundamental human rights and urged Algeria to repeal it.

For this reason, we call on you to support Kabylia’s innocent detainees by communicating and sharing with your public the pain and suffering of over 400 political detainees who are languishing in Algerian prisons, notably the 38 sentenced to death who are incarcerated in inhumane conditions for charges they didn’t commit.

We are available for further details and information.