Eight Algerian pro-democracy activists were arrested between July 8th and 15th in Bejaia, east of the capital.
Lawyer Fetta Sadat confirmed their pre-trial detention on Thursday, while six others received judicial supervision.
This comes amidst ongoing tensions as Algeria approaches its September 7th presidential election.
The detained activists,including university professor Mira Mokhnache, were part of the Hirak protest movement that toppled former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019.
Hirak continues to advocate for deeper reforms, but its influence waned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the National Committee for the Release of Detainees (CNLD), one of the detained activists had just been released last month after a three-year prison sentence for involvement in the pro-democracy protests.
Local media reports suggest the group is being prosecuted under a controversial 2021 anti-terrorism law amendment.
This isn’t the first time international organizations have criticized Algerian authorities’ treatment of activists.
Last year, a UN expert called for the repeal of the aforementioned amendment and urged the release of those detained for peaceful protests.
Amnesty International also condemned the “escalated repression of peaceful dissent” and urged reform.
Dozens of activists remain in detention, casting a shadow over the upcoming elections.
Incumbent president Abdelmadjid Tebboune is expected to remain the frontrunner. It remains to be seen how these detentions and the broader crackdown on dissent will impact the political landscape in Algeria.
