Alkarama Foundation submitted to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention the case of the arrest of Abderrahmane Zitout, brother of Mohamed Larbi Zitout, a former Algerian diplomat, who went into exile in London in 1995, where he obtained the status of political refugee, after revealing and denouncing the serious human rights violations committed by the Algerian state forces during the civil war (1993-2000), according to a statement from the NGO.
Alkarama called on the Working Group to recognize the arbitrary nature of the deprivation of liberty of Mr. Abderrahmane Zitout and to enjoin Algeria to release him immediately and to refrain in the future from any act of retaliation against relatives of political dissidents established abroad.
Abderrahmane Zitout was arrested on March 30, 2022 at 6 p.m. by a dozen armed agents, some of whom were in uniform and others in civilian clothes and hoods, while he was in his clothing store on the first floor of his family home. The police searched his premises and home and then took him away to an unknown destination.
Despite searches by his family, the NGO said, his place of detention was not revealed and Abderrahmane Zitout remained held incommunicado until April 4, 2022, when his family learned that he was in the prison of El Harrach (suburb of Algiers).
During a first visit by his family to the prison, Abderrahmane Zitout reported that he spent the five days following his arrest at the central police station in Algiers, where he was questioned at length by agents of the judicial police. He testified that he was questioned about his links with his brother in London, the type of relationship he has with his brother and whether he shares his political beliefs. He also reported being questioned about events related to the widespread “Hirak” protest movement.
To challenge the arbitrary nature of his detention, Abderrahmane Zitout went on hunger strike from August 14 to September 1, 2022. During this period, he was placed in isolation in a small cell, deprived of daylight. Following the deterioration of his health, he was rushed to hospital until 11 September 2022, adds AlKarama.
