Title	Algeria: Fear and silence: a hidden human rights crisis
Publisher	Amnesty International
Publication Date	19 November 1996
Country	Algeria
Topics	Abduction | Arbitrary arrest and detention | Armed groups / Militias / Paramilitary forces / Resistance movements | Disappeared persons | Extrajudicial executions | Freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment | Human rights and fundamental freedoms | Independence of judiciary | Prison or detention conditions | Protection of civilian persons in time of war | Security forces | Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)
Citation / Document Symbol	MDE 28/011/1996
Reference	Amnesty International is a worldwide voluntary movement that works to prevent some of the gravest violations by governments of people's fundamental human rights. The main focus of its campaigning is to: free all prisoners of conscience people detained an
Cite as	Amnesty International, Algeria: Fear and silence: a hidden human rights crisis, 19 November 1996, MDE 28/011/1996, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a99bc.html [accessed 28 May 2023]
Comments	Extrajudicial executions, deliberate and arbitrary killings, 'disappearances', torture, abductions, death threats, and other abuses have become part of Algeria's daily reality. As confrontations between security forces and armed opposition groups, who define themselves as 'Islamic groups', continue, killings and abuses are carried out in the name of the 'anti-terrorist fight' by some or 'holy war' by others, and the civilian population is bearing the brunt of the confrontation. More than 50,000 people are reported to have been killed in Algeria in the past five years. If many were killed in armed confrontation between security forces and armed opposition groups, thousands of civilians were victims of both targeted and indiscriminate attacks. Both security forces and armed opposition groups have shown utter disregard for the most basic human right of the civilian population - the right to life. The identity and motives of those responsible for killings and abductions has become increasingly difficult to establish, as patterns of behaviour of security forces and armed opposition groups are often similar: the army and security forces wear plain clothes, use ordinary vehicles and do not identify themselves, whereas armed opposition groups at times wear security forces uniforms and pose as security forces. The pattern of killings and abuses has become more and more entrenched and has created an atmosphere of fear, where many among the civilian population neither know nor understand why they are being targeted or by whom. The recently set-up government-backed militias, who define themselves as 'self-defence groups' or 'patriots' have increasingly been involved in counter-insurgency operations using military and security forces uniforms and equipment, and have also been responsible for deliberate and arbitrary killings. With the atmosphere of increasing breakdown of law and order the civilian population has been drawn more and more into the confrontation. In addition to extrajudicial executions and deliberate and arbitrary killings, other grave human rights abuses have continued to be committed. Hundreds of people have 'disappeared' after having been arrested by security forces; torture and ill-treatment of detainees held in secret detention by security forces is widespread, and thousands of people have been arbitrarily detained, including prisoners of conscience. Armed opposition groups, for their part, have also tortured some of their victims before killing them, and have abducted and raped dozens of women. In addition, these groups have repeatedly issued death threats against civilians including civil servants, relatives of members of security forces, journalists, teachers, women, foreigners and many others from various sectors of civilian society. The increasingly strict censorship of security-related information has kept many of the killings and abuses hidden behind a wall of silence, and the international community has remained indifferent to the plight of victims of human rights violations in Algeria. This report describes the human rights situation in Algeria, including some of the aspects of the hidden reality. The report is based on testimonies and information collected on a daily basis from a wide range of sources, including victims, their families, human rights activists, lawyers, medical doctors, journalists, members of the security forces, and government authorities. The organization condemns and opposes the killings of civilians and other abuses committed by armed opposition groups, and has repeatedly called on these armed groups to stop targeting civilians. However, no level of violence by these groups - no matter how serious - can ever justify extrajudicial executions, torture, 'disappearances' and other grave violations which continue to be committed by the security forces. To date not a single case of human rights violations committed by security forces is known to have been thoroughly and independently investigated, and members of the security forces responsible for the violations are allowed to continue violating human rights with impunity. This report contains recommendations to the Algerian Government to take concrete action to stop and prevent human rights violations committed by security forces, to investigate violations and bring to justice anyone found responsible, and to disband all militias. The report also reiterates calls to all armed opposition groups to put an immediate end to deliberate killings and abductions of civilians, torture and rape, and to stop threatening civilians with death.
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