In the lead-up to the sixth anniversary of Algeria’s Hirak protest movement, authorities have escalated a widespread crackdown on peaceful dissent, arresting and prosecuting activists and journalists linked to a growing online protest campaign dubbed “Manich Radi” (I Am Not Satisfied). Amnesty International reports that at least 23 individuals have been detained or sentenced over the past five months—simply for exercising their right to free expression.

Online Activism Criminalized

Launched in December 2024, Manich Radi quickly gained traction as a response to worsening socioeconomic conditions and repression. The hashtag has since become a symbol of digital dissent, sparking arrests and severe penalties:

• Soheib Debbaghi and Mahdi Bazizi received 18-month prison sentences for launching the movement and sharing related posts.

• Mohamed Tadjadit, a poet and activist, was sentenced to five years in prison after a four-day trial for poems and posts using the hashtag.

• Belaid Charfi, Massinissa Lakhal, and “Abla” Derama Kemari were all handed multi-year prison terms for online posts denouncing the regime or expressing solidarity with other detainees.

Many of these trials were rushed, with limited legal representation, raising concerns of serious due process violations.

“The latest spate of arbitrary arrests and unjust prosecutions demonstrates the Algerian authorities’ clear resolve to crush all expressions of discontent,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty’s Regional Director.

Journalists Under Fire

Independent journalists have also been swept up in the repression:

• Abdelwaheb Moualek was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a Facebook post.

• Mustapha Bendjama was placed under judicial supervision and banned from publishing, with a travel ban imposed, for allegedly “harming national interest.”

Pattern of Suppression Since 2019

These arrests are part of a broader pattern of repression since the Hirak movement began in 2019, where Algeria’s authorities have repeatedly used the legal system to silence criticism, suppress protests, and punish activism. Hundreds of peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders, and journalists have faced arbitrary detention, judicial harassment, or gag orders.

“Nothing can justify detaining and jailing people solely for having expressed dissatisfaction about political and socioeconomic conditions,” said Morayef.

Amnesty International is calling for:

• Immediate and unconditional release of all individuals jailed for peaceful expression.

• An end to expedited and unfair trials.

• Independent investigations into human rights abuses and full access to justice for victims.