On Thursday, the Algerian judiciary released dozens of demonstrators and activists who had been imprisoned over the past months for "threatening national unity", the most prominent of which is the former liberation fighter Lakhdar Bouraka, who has become a symbol of the demonstrations.
The Ministry of Justice said that 76 detainees have been released, including Bouraqa (86 years), a former military who participated in the Algerian liberation war in the 1960s and was arrested in June after he made statements attacking the army.
Lawyer Abdul-Ghani Badi indicated to France Press that the trial session of his client, Boqaqa, which was expected today, was postponed, and the judge decided to release him, and he will be represented in the session scheduled for next March 12.
The arrest sparked the wrath of anger in Algeria, especially in the ranks of the protest movement, which was participating in its weekly demonstrations, and its pictures became raised during the demonstrations and turned into a symbol of all "political detainees".
Also today, retired Brigadier General Hussein Bin Hadid, who was imprisoned last May for "attempting to weaken the morale of the army," was released today after statements criticizing the way the army leadership was managing the crisis.
The Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (Independent) and Coordination for the Defense of the Detainees (Independent) said that several courts across the country issued wholesale rulings in the last hours to release protesters and activists who were arrested during the movement's marches months ago, and dozens of other detainees have been released in the past few days.
This comes a day after the release of businessman Ya`sad Rabrab, the country's richest man, after he was sentenced to 6 months in prison, which was deducted from his arrest period that started in April 2019, when he was tried in corruption cases.
The new president, Abdul Majeed Tabun - who was elected last month in elections the opposition described as illegitimate - offered to open a dialogue with the protest movement.
Political analysts in Algeria said the release of the detainees may be aimed at winning support among opponents for talks.