Holiday Card Action 2008

ALGERIA – Louisa Saker

Louisa Saker has not seen or heard from her husband, Salah Saker, since May 1994, when he was arrested without a warrant at their home in the city of Constantine. In October 2002, having been unable to uncover the truth about her husband despite numerous appeals to the Algerian authorities, Louisa Saker turned to the UN Human Rights Committee. In a landmark decision on enforced disappearance in Algeria, the Committee ruled in March 2006 that that the authorities must launch a full investigation into the fate of Salah Saker, release him (if he is still alive), compensate him and his family, and bring those responsible for his enforced disappearance to justice. Despite this, judicial authorities in Constantine dismissed Louisa Saker's complaint.

The fate of thousands of victims of enforced disappearance during Algeria's internal conflict in the 1990s remains unknown, and the anguish of their relatives continues. Amnesty laws in Algeria bar courts from investigating complaints against the security forces. As a result of Louisa Saker's continuing efforts to uncover the truth about her husband, she has suffered arrest and beatings, and she was forced by police agents to sign an agreement not to participate in any more peaceful demonstrations by families of victims of enforced disappearance. She is currently facing charges for participating in an unauthorized march.

If you wish to send her a message in French, you may write: "Nous penson à vous" which means "We are thinking of you."

Please send cards of support to:

Louisa Saker
Cite Fadila Chaabane
Batiment D, No: 801
Constantine
ALGERIA