By RFIPosted on 15-12-2019Changed on 15-12-2019 at 00:10
In Algeria, is there a desire to end the protests? This is the question posed by associations and the press. In Oran, several hundred demonstrators were arrested and intimidated in the police stations. Most have been released.
" The goal was to scare us ." This is what an Oran activist concludes this Saturday. Thursday evening, then Friday, the police arrested hundreds of demonstrators in the second largest city in the country.
Men in civilian clothes, but also intervention forces and men in hoods on motorcycles arrested those who appeared to be going to the planned demonstrations to protest the presidential election and to demand a change of political system.
Read also: Algeria: Abdelmadjid Tebboune's victory does not end the dispute
Men, women and the elderly were taken to police stations. Protesters contacted by RFI say they were beaten, insulted and threatened by the police. Some have seen their cell phones emptied of the photos and videos they contained.
A young woman says that her voice messages have been listened to, her text messages printed.
This is the first time in this city that the police have prevented a demonstration from taking place on Friday. And it caused a lot of excitement. This Saturday, rallies in solidarity with the inhabitants of the city took place in other regions of the country.
Thursday and Friday dozens of protesters were arrested in the cities of Tlemcen, Aïn Temouchent and Saïda.
Read also: Algeria: Abdelmadjid Tebboune says he wants to reach out to the protesters
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