Algerian opposition leader Fethi Ghares arrested

 

Fethi Ghares’ arrest occurs just before the September 7 presidential elections, as President Tebboune campaigns for a second term. The timing is notable as it coincides with increased restrictions on Karim Tabbou, another prominent figure from the 2019 Hirak movement. The National Committee for the Release of Prisoners (CNLD) reported that Ghares, a leader of the banned Democratic and Social Movement (MDS), was detained at his Algiers home and taken to the central police station.

Ghares' wife revealed in a Facebook video that plainclothes officers, who did not provide a formal summons, arrested him under the pretext of needing an explanation. Despite assurances that he would be taken to a nearby police station, conflicting reports emerged about his whereabouts. No official statement has yet been issued regarding his detention.

At 49 years old, Ghares is a prominent left-wing activist who played a significant role in the 2019 Hirak protests, which led to former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika's resignation. Previously arrested in June 2021 and sentenced to two years in January 2022 for charges including insulting the president and disseminating information harmful to national unity, Ghares was released in March 2022 after a reduced sentence. His movement, MDS, was banned in February 2023.

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