Algerian opposition leader Karim Tabbou was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine on Wednesday, according to the National Committee for the Release of Detainees (CNLD).
Tabbou, a prominent figure in the country’s pro-democracy Hirak movement, was convicted of charges including “incitement to unarmed assembly,” insulting a civil servant, and defamation.
The 49-year-old activist rose to national recognition during the mass demonstrations that began in February 2019.
The Hirak movement demanded a complete overhaul of the ruling system established after Algeria gained independence from France in 1962.
The protests initially led to the resignation of longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, but calls for deeper reforms continued even as the movement’s momentum waned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Tabbou was acquitted of several other charges, the CNLD reported that the prosecution had initially sought a harsher sentence of one year in prison and a doubled fine.
This verdict comes after Tabbou previously served a year-long sentence in 2020 for “undermining national security” due to his criticisms of the military’s political influence.
He was also detained for unknown reasons in April 2022.
Despite the ruling against Tabbou, concerns remain over the ongoing detentions of dozens of individuals linked to Hirak activism and human rights work in Algeria, as reported by rights groups.
