/ / Urgent Action: TORTURED WHISTLEBLOWER SENTENCED TO LIFE [Algeria Fourth UA 43.22]

TORTURED WHISTLEBLOWER SENTENCED TO LIFE [Algeria Fourth UA 43.22]

UA: Fourth 43.22 Algeria

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Mohamed Benhlima, a former military officer, whistleblower, and anti-corruption activist who was forcibly returned from Spain on March 24, 2022, is serving a life sentence in the Blida military prison stemming from the exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. He has complained to the court of torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence, prolonged solitary confinement, and beatings at least six times since May 2022, but the Algerian authorities have not announced an investigation. Authorities must quash his convictions and sentences, drop any further charges stemming from his exercise of human rights, and release him immediately.

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PLEASE TAKE ACTION BEFORE SEPTEMBER 21, 2025

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Step 1

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Remember to send your letter by September 21, 2025.

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Sample Letter

Your Excellency,

I am writing to express my concern about the ongoing arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of whistleblower, activist, and former military official, Mohamed Benhlima, since his forced return from Spain in March 2022. His claims that he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence, while held at the Blida military prison in 2022, have not been investigated despite multiple complaints and statements in court.

Civil and military judicial courts have convicted Mohamed Benhlima at least four separate cases on charges stemming solely from his exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.

Mohamed Benhlima is held in the Blida military prison, where prison authorities have on occasion denied him family visits without providing a reason or only allowed him to see them for 10 minutes in the presence of guards.

I urge you to release Mohamed Benhlima, quash his convictions and sentences, and drop all the charges against him related to his exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Pending his release, I urge you to ensure that he is held in conditions meeting international standards and to launch an immediate and effective investigation into his complaints of torture and other ill treatment. Finally, I urge you to grant him access to his family and lawyers and to refrain from any act of intimidation against them.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Sample Social Post

1/2 The Algerian president must ensure the immediate release of whistleblower Mohamed Benhlima, serving an unjust life sentence for exposing corruption. His repeated allegations of torture must be investigated promptly.

2/2: Since his forced return from Spain in March 2022, whistleblower Mohamed Benhlima complained of torture, including sexual violence, at least six times. Instead of investigating, the Algerian authorities sentenced him to life in prison on bogus charges to punish his dissent. #FreeBenhlima, #JusticeForBenhlima, #HumanRights, #Algeria, #EndTorture, #WhistleblowerProtection

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Step 2

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Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

President of the Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune

Presidence de la Republique

Place Mohammed Seddik Benyahiya, El Mouradia,

Alger 16000 Algérie

Fax: +213 021691595

[email protected] AlgerianPresidency

and

CC: Algerian Embassy in the United States, Ambassador Sabri Boukadoum

2118 Kalorama Road NW,

Washington DC 20008

[email protected]

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