Release women prisoners of conscience in Algeria

 

A LabourStart Campaign

The women of the independent national trade union of public administration employees in Algeria, Femmes SNAPAP, are calling for the immediate release of Dalila Touat and Namia Abdelkader, both teachers and both prisoners of conscience.

Since the mass protests denouncing pervasive corruption in Algeria – also called the Hirak Movement – and the protests following the December presidential election, repression has intensified, sparing no one, including trade unionists.

Dalila Touat, a 45-year-old physics teacher at Mostaganem High School, whose trade union is a member of SNAPAP, was sentenced on 3 January to 18 months in prison for her opposition to the enforced presidential election. She is accused of "publications undermining the public order".

Another woman, Namia Abdelkader, has been incarcerated since 2 December 2020. She has been detained for speaking up, confronting injustice and fighting the corrupt generals in power.

Dalila has been on hunger strike since her sentencing and her life is now in danger.

Nassira Ghozlane, SNAPAP General Secretary, writes:

"Let us act quickly, let us act together to save women prisoners of conscience. Let us act against the pursuit of women activists. The judicial and police persecution must stop today and not tomorrow. This is not impossible if we act now in solidarity and unity."

Public Services International has launched a major new campaign on LabourStart in solidarity with SNAPAP and the two jailed women. The campaign demands the unconditional release of all those arrested for attempting to exercise their trade union and civic rights and provide guarantees of their safety.

Please take a moment to show your support here.

Eric Lee