Prominent Algerian opposition leader Karim Tabbou released under police control

Algerian opposition leader Karim Tabbou was released under police control after being arrested on Tuesday for his appearance on the Al Magharibia channel in which he discussed the political situation in the Maghreb with former Tunisian president Moncef Marzouki.

The National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees (CNLD) reported that the dissident was charged with four offences for this televised appearance, after appearing on Thursday before the public prosecutor of Koléa, wilaya (province) of Tipaza, and then before the examining magistrate.

The organisation had warned of Tabbou's "disappearance" for 48 hours since last Tuesday, during which the family had no knowledge of his whereabouts or information on the reasons for his arrest, according to lawyer Toufik Belala, who denounced the "illegality of the procedure".

"The arrest of the political opponent Karim Tabbou took place in Dely Ibrahim (Algiers) by individuals in civilian clothes, but we do not know which institution they belong to", his lawyer declared at the time.
Tabbou is the leader of the unregistered political party Democratic and Social Union (UDS) and played an active role during the so-called Hirak, a mass protest movement that has been calling for political change in the country since 2019.

The well-known opposition figure was sentenced in 2020 to one year in prison for "undermining national security" for criticising the army's interference in political affairs.

Tabbou was also detained for 24 hours in April 2022 after attending the funeral of activist Hakim Debbazi, who died in prison, and pointing the finger at the authorities for his death.

Regarding this week's arrest, Tabbou himself had posted on his Facebook page a summary of his televised intervention on 7 May with Marzouki in which they discussed the economic and political challenges facing the Maghreb countries.

"Two figures whose paths are different and who found themselves committed to working alongside citizens to demand change. Two figures whose will is iron will to lead this noble struggle for democracy in the Maghreb", he wrote on his social network alongside a video of the television programme.