Algeria: The arrest of dissident "Karim Tabou" is a continuation of the country's repressive practices against freedom of expression.

Stockholm - Skyline International for Human Rights condemns the arrest of political opponent "Karim Tabou", one of the most prominent figures of the pro-democracy movement, by Algerian police at his home on Tuesday night. Skyline stresses that such practices reflect the extent of the dangerous deterioration of the human rights situation in the country. This is especially true for opposition figures and activists.

On Thursday, Skyline said that Jaafar was "arrested in the city of Deli Brahim in Algiers," according to his brother on Facebook, adding that it was not known when he was handed over to prosecutors or the details of the charges against him.

"Skyline" reports that "Jaafar Tabou" posted on social media Tuesday evening that his brother "was arrested by people in plain clothes, without knowing which institution they belong to or where he is"

It should be noted that the dissident Karim Tabou (48 years old) heads a small opposition party, the Democratic and Social Union, which has not received permission from the authorities. He is also one of the most popular figures of the movement, which saw large demonstrations from February 2019 to early 2020.

"Skyline" notes that opposition member "Tabou" was sentenced to a year in prison in March 2020 for "undermining national security" for criticizing government and army interference in political affairs in a video clip posted on his party's Facebook account.

For its part, the international foundation "Skyline" condemns and rejects the practices of the Algerian security services against opposition figures, particularly the crackdown on "Tabou''. It points out that the Algerian authorities deliberately intimidate their opponents and journalists by arresting them and putting them on trial in order to silence them. It further stresses that this policy is unacceptable and unjustified.

Skyline also affirms that the arrest of dissident Karim Tabou violates international law, which is enshrined in many of its conventions, notably the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 19 of these conventions provides that that " Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice."

Skyline concludes its statement by calling on Algerian authorities to clarify the fate of dissident "Tabou" and release him immediately, as well as to stop the policy of intimidation, arrest, and conviction of dissidents and journalists. It also stresses the importance of the government's role in allowing dissidents and activists to exercise their fundamental rights guaranteed by law.