Event Summary
On 22 May 2025, the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), an Algerian opposition party, announced that it had been prevented by the administration of the wilaya of Algiers from holding a political meeting planned in Algiers. The event was scheduled for Saturday, May 24, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Ibn Khaldoun auditorium, a central venue in the capital. In a letter dated 21 May, the administration justified its refusal by indicating that the hall was not available due to other activities planned for 17 – 30 May. However, the RCD stressed that this was not an isolated case, highlighting a recurring pattern of denial of permission for its political rallies. In response, the party issued a public statement condemning the ban and filed an appeal with the administrative court to challenge the decision.
This incident reinforces the normalization of arbitrary restrictions on freedom of assembly and underscores the increasingly constraining environment for political expression and civic engagement in Algeria, where administrative barriers continue to limit the operational space of opposition parties and civil society organizations.