Event Summary
On 11 November 2025, activist and poet Mohamed Tadjadit was sentenced to five years in prison on terrorism-related charges, including “condoning terrorism” and “supporting terrorist organizations.” His lawyer confirmed the conviction, which carries grave implications for freedom of expression in Algeria. This ruling comes ahead of a new trial scheduled for 30 November, where Tadjadit and 12 other activists face additional state security charges punishable by long-term imprisonment and even the death penalty—despite the allegations being based solely on peaceful activism and private online communications advocating political reform.
Just a day earlier, on 10 November, twenty Algerian, regional, and international organizations, including the Foundation for the Promotion of Rights, had urged authorities to drop all charges and release Tadjadit and his co-defendants. Their joint statement condemned the prosecutions as baseless and warned that the misuse of anti-terrorism laws against protected expression creates a chilling effect, eroding fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.
Tadjadit, known as “the poet of the Hirak” for his role in Algeria’s 2019 pro-democracy protests, has faced relentless judicial harassment since 2019, including multiple imprisonments, a pardon in November 2024, and re-arrest in January 2025. His latest conviction signals escalating repression, threatening the enabling environment for civil society and discouraging activism across the country.