Algeria / General’s wife bullies judges who back the popular uprising

Many judges and magistrates of the Tipaza Court have been threatened and pressured after publicly displaying their support for the ongoing popular movement that calls for political change and the departure of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. According to numerous media reports, it is the President of the Tipaza Court, Fatiha Boukhers, who is orchestrating reprisals against these judges.

This President of the Tipaza Court is the wife of the controversial General Ghali Belkecir, the Commander of the National Gendarmerie. Ghali Belkecir had engineered the imprisonment of several journalists and opponents last October without a shred of evidence against them. They were subsequently released with some forced to exile in France.

The Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH) has confirmed this information in a statement made public: “The LADDH is learning that judges of the Tipaza Court are under threat of conservatory measures from the President of the Court, suspensions and transfers are in preparation. The latter criticizes the judges for their rallying in the people’s cause and for having held a peaceful assembly before the Court on Sunday, March 17, 2019” wrote the LADDH in a statement. Adding “The LADDH denounces this authoritarian approach that bears the seal of abuse and nonsense“.

Finally, it should be noted that General Belkecir’s wife is also close to the Minister of Justice, Tayeb Louh.