Slimane Bouhafs

Background and Work

Slimane Bouhafs is a human rights defender whose work centres on freedom of expression, democracy, and the protection of religious minorities in Algeria. He chairs the St. Augustine Coordination of Christians in Algeria, an organisation advocating for minority rights and freedom of religion in a context where dissent and difference are often met with repression. Bouhafs used social media platforms to reach audiences inside and outside Algeria, calling for democratic reform and challenging government narratives.

His activism placed him at risk. By 2021, Bouhafs had left Algeria and was granted refugee status in Tunisia, a recognition of the threats he faced. But exile offered no protection.

Abduction and Forced Return

On 25 August 2021, Algerian security forces abducted Bouhafs in Tunisia. He was subjected to ill-treatment and forcibly transferred back to Algeria in violation of the principle of non-refoulement and Tunisia's obligations under international refugee law. The abduction was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of transnational repression targeting Algerian activists in exile.

For days, Bouhafs' whereabouts remained unknown. He reappeared on 1 September 2021 before an investigating judge at a court in Algiers. He was charged with belonging to a terrorist organisation, receiving foreign funds for political propaganda, hate speech and discrimination, using technology to spread false information, and conspiracy. The charges were based on alleged affiliation with the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie, which the Algerian authorities classify as a terrorist group. Bouhafs denied the allegations.

Legal Proceedings

In December 2022, the court of first instance sentenced Bouhafs to three years in prison and imposed a fine of 100,000 Algerian dinars, approximately 660 euros. The verdict rested primarily on the alleged association with the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie. Defence counsel challenged the proceedings, citing the absence of credible evidence and violations of fair trial standards.

On 4 July 2023, the Algiers Court of Appeal upheld the sentence and the fine. The appeal judgment confirmed the original conviction without addressing the procedural deficiencies raised by the defence. Throughout the trial and appeal, Bouhafs maintained that he was being targeted for his peaceful human rights work and his advocacy for freedom of expression and belief.

Detention and Release

Bouhafs remained in detention from August 2021 through the completion of his sentence. Conditions of his imprisonment and any health impacts during this period have not been publicly documented in detail. He was released on 1 September 2024, having served the full three-year term.

Transnational Repression

The forced return of Bouhafs from Tunisia represents a clear case of transnational repression. Despite holding refugee status, he was abducted by Algerian security forces operating across an international border and returned to face charges in a judicial system that denied him due process. The violation of non-refoulement protections and the use of abduction to silence a defender in exile illustrate the reach of state repression beyond national borders.