Kabyles for Human Rights
226 W Market St.
Hallam PA 1706-1029
USA

September 3rd,2024

AFP
Attn. Mr. Fabrice Fries, CEO
13, Place de la Bourse
75002 Paris
France

Subject: Tragedy in Kabylia. An oppressed people at some miles away from France

Dear Fabrice Fries,

Our NGO–Kabyles for Human Rights (KHR) is reacting to the news that you issued on August 14th, 2024, regarding the alleged terrorist action conducted by Kabyles and, in which, France has been involved as well. Your article appears to be a mere copy of the propaganda released by the Algeria Press Service agency (APS).

These serious charges against a peaceful organization, such as, the Movement for Kabylia Self-Determination (MAK) as well as the accusations barely concealed against the French Secret Services –the whole allegations being wrapped in a fictional scenario – should still have challenged you regarding the veracity of such news. Further, a golden opportunity has been given to you to identify the scenario inconsistencies of the alleged weapons transportations by MAK from the port of Marseille to Kabylia. Instead, you have preferred to fully relay the Algerian APS nonsense, knowing that this Agency is totally subdued to the Algerian military regime. As a result, by spreading disinformation (fake news) you’re deliberately contributing to disseminate the Algerian dictatorship lies. Similarly, we remind you that your publication dated on October 23rd, 2023, lent credibility to the Algerian thesis in which 38 innocent kabyles were sentenced to death, without any investigation.

You are certainly aware about the version given by smaller media than yours, such as, Algérie Part 1, which cannot be suspected of being a supporter of the MAK movement. The analysis of this media has uncovered glaring inconsistencies in the statement released by the Algerian authorities, including the Minister of Defense. Furthermore, you could have made justice to MAK’s President Ferhat Mehenni by publishing his denial pursuant to the many inconsistencies that he spotted in the Algerian fictive scenario.

Yet your rules of deontology as embodied  in the articles 5 and 7 of your Charter require that you to fulfill
your due diligence and « fact checking » on this case and not just relay the news issued by other agencies, particularly when these are at the service of theocratic countries. This failure causes immense harm to a movement which, from our viewpoint, is peaceful and, it is committed to defending fundamental human rights of Kabyle people.

As a  conclusion, we herewith ask you to undertake an investigation into this case and set the record straight, based on facts, in a future statement.

Links:

 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt3XHnQglcg

 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22kgsjFBots

Yours faithfully,

Kabyles for Human Rights