Algerians to stage sit-in in front of European Parliament headquarters to denounce blatant interference in domestic affairs
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- A sit-in demonstration is set to be held, next month, in front of the European Parliament’s headquarters by Algerians residing abroad to denounce the blatant interference in Algeria’s domestic affairs.
Algeria resolutely hits back at European Parliament’s double standards, meddling in internal affairs, politicizing human rights baseless allegations
After the journalist Ihsene El Kadi was found guilty by an Algerian tribunal based on compelling evidence of foreign financing of his business, voices of biased condemnation emerged, the last of which was the resolution of the European Parliament.
In fact, we did not hear the voice of this institution when the Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, was murdered on May 11th, 2022, by Zionist forces’ fire and then robbed of a dignified burial, as stated by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in a response to a related question addressed to him by Al Jazeera’s journalist.
Noting that Abu Akleh was murdered when she was reporting on Zionist incursions in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. She was slain while donning a bulletproof vest with the word “Press” on it.
Why didn’t they defend the freedom of expression when a journalist was murdered while carrying out her duties as a journalist?
In addition, why did this European institution turn a blind eye to the human rights’ violations in Morocco? Noting that it issued one resolution in 25 years, and disregarded the case of the Moroccan journalist Omar Radi, who covered Hirak protests and state corruption scandals in Morocco and was handed down a heavy prison term!
So, amid the wave of hostility and smearing campaign New Algeria is facing over the alleged deterioration of the human rights situation in the country, we would have liked the EP, whose members are hosting terrorists convicted in their respective countries, to investigate real and proven cases of human rights violations in other countries shirking their human rights obligations and commitments instead of focusing on Algeria, a country that has made very notable advances in this area, as confirmed by many other institutions.
MEPs keep a mysterious silence over the catastrophic situation of human rights abuse in different countries. What is this if not a blatant example of double standards? So, how long will this institution maintain its double-standard policies?
In fact, this inconsistency is concerning and undermines its credibility, though this latter has already been severely damaged by the corruption scandal that has plagued it for months!
Algeria has long regarded the protection and advancement of human rights as a core value in both its domestic and foreign policies. Its attachment to the respect and promotion of human rights has always been a fundamental principle, stemming from the precepts of our noble religion, Islam, which made mankind sacred. Similarly, the North African country complies with the charters it has ratified. It is in tune with international obligations in this area, especially those related to freedom of opinion and expression. In his swearing-in speech, President Tebboune stressed the particular interest he gives to human rights, affirming that “no one will suffer injustice in Algeria.”
Tendentious allegations that Algerian authorities are stifling critical voices are baseless. Contrariwise, Algeria has always sought to protect and promote freedom of opinion, expression, religion, and belief as constitutional principles.
Algerian laws contain provisions that are in line with the international conventions ratified in this field. This is reflected in the fact that these freedoms have been established as constitutional principles. Article 42 of the Algerian Constitution states: “Freedom of conscience and freedom of opinion shall be inviolable. Freedom of worship shall be guaranteed in compliance with the law.”
However, it is the responsibility of the Algerian State to uphold law and order through its institutions in order to maintain stability. In this vein, laws are enacted to be rigorously enforced and respected. Besides, the journalist is justiciable in the same way as other citizens in the event of a misdemeanor or felony being committed. The only safeguard to be scrupulously respected is that no journalist should be condemned because of their works and/or their writings. In a similar spirit, President Tebboune stated, in an interview with French daily l’Opinion, that “no journalist has been arrested for being a journalist”—only for “the breach of public order.”
This is, indeed, El Kadi’s case. According to the irrefutable evidence, the individual in question was charged with receiving funds for political propaganda and harming the security of the state, not for writing critical articles, an activity he pursued freely for years without restrictions.
This kind of “communicating vessel” is far from being limited to a simple case of finances and possible illicit enrichment. In fact, Algeria is a target!
Under President Tebboune’s judicious vision and wise leadership, New Algeria’s national and international gains weigh heavily on ignominious traitors with profound rancor towards our fortified Algeria, who are resorting to every means possible to sap its stability and security.
Back to the non-binding resolution, Algeria has slammed the meddling in its domestic affairs by the European Parliament that is instigated by circles hostile to it and its vital issues. Algeria’s Council of the Nation and the Arab Parliament have also hit back at the European Parliament’s biased and baseless resolution. They denounced, in the strongest terms, “foreign impositions” and “interference in the independent judicial system” of the North African country.
The Arab Parliament has strongly condemned the European Parliament’s interference in Algeria’s internal affairs and renewed its call for the European Parliament to stop appointing itself as the guardian of Arab countries. In a statement, the Arab Parliament rejected the European Parliament’s resolution on “freedom of expression” in Algeria and labeled it a blatant interference in Algeria’s internal affairs. The Arab Parliament also urged the European Parliament not to politicize human rights issues and not to use them as a pretext to interfere in Algeria’s internal affairs.
The Parliament pointed out that the EU Parliament must respect the rules and norms of parliamentary diplomacy, and to communicate directly with the Algerian Parliament to investigate facts from reliable sources, especially since there is already a direct contact between the two sides, which is the Joint Parliamentary Committee between Algeria and the EU.
For its part, the Higher Youth Council affirmed in a press release on Friday that the resolution of the European Parliament (EP) on the human rights situation in Algeria, which is based on “erroneous information” constitutes a ” flagrant interference in the internal affairs of Algeria” which has been able to “build a democratic experience refractory to filthy agendas”.
“While Algeria is on the way to the consecration of democracy, transparency and freedom of expression, thanks to the legal mechanisms and political practices that have made post-Hirak Algeria a blessed country enjoying stability in a new era reinforced by the democratic achievements introduced by the 2020 Constitution, including the creation of the Higher Youth Council, one of the most important instruments that have promoted the participation of young people in decision-making, now the European Parliament, with its latest resolution, is once again showing its gloomy face, resorting to the policy of double standards,” read the communiqué.
The European Parliament had better focus on resolving its own fading legitimacy, as evidenced by the corruption scandals.
As a reminder, the European Parliament has been embroiled in a corruption scandal involving Morocco. The scandal has raised concerns about the integrity of the European Union’s governing body and its relationship with non-EU countries.
Members of the European Parliament received bribes from Moroccan officials in exchange for supporting Morocco’s thesis on Western Sahara.
As the investigation into the scandal continues, it is important for the European Parliament to take swift and decisive action to restore public trust and uphold the values of transparency and accountability. Only by doing so can the EU maintain its credibility and continue to serve the interests of its citizens and partners worldwide.
