Algeria: one of the emblematic figures of the acquitted protest

Anti-government demonstration in Algiers, February 28, 2020. REUTERS / Ramzi Boudina

Text by: RFI Follow

In Algeria, around fifty demonstrators arrested on Friday in the capital were released on Sunday. Some will have to appear in court at the end of the month. Earlier in the day, one of the activists who became a media figure in the Algerian protest movement, Fodil Boumala, was released by the courts after more than 5 months in pretrial detention. It is yet another release from the ranks of activists arrested since the start of the Hirak a year ago.

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With our correspondent in Algiers , Leïla Beratto

He was greeted upon his release from prison by his family, a crowd of journalists and supporters, brandishing mobile phones at arm's length, but also former detainees. He said, " We will no longer tolerate anyone being detained for their opinion in the future ."

The activist #FodilBoumala was released this morning by the Dar El Beida Court in Algiers. # Algeria pic.twitter.com/kEZtI1zfIe

Amnesty Algeria (@AmnestyAlgerie) March 1, 2020

Fodil Boumala was placed in pre-trial detention on September 19, during the second major wave of arrests of demonstrators and activists. He was charged with "undermining national unity" and "posting leaflets that damaged the national interest". He was acquitted.

Another activist, Samir Benlarbi, arrested at the same time, and accused of the same acts, was released in early February. Since January, several dozen demonstrators or activists placed in pre-trial detention since the start of the protest movement have been released. Others have seen their lawsuits dropped.

However, a week ago, 20 demonstrators were sentenced to prison by the court in Algiers, for unarmed assembly

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