New Arrest of AROPL Member in Algeria

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) condemns the arrest, detention, and ongoing religious persecution of Adem Kebieche, a young student from Jijel Province, Algeria, for peacefully expressing his beliefs. Adem Kebieche was detained on December 19, 2024, by Algerian authorities for four days before being released on bail. He now faces charges under Article 144 of the Algerian Penal Code, accused of "mocking what is known of religion," with a criminal trial scheduled for March 13, 2025, at the Court of El Khroub.

This arrest reflects another grave violation of fundamental human rights by the Algerian authorities, including freedom of religion and freedom of expression, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as Algeria's constitution.

The detention of Adem Kebieche is part of a troubling pattern of state-led persecution against the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Algeria. This history includes the widely criticized crackdown on members of the AROPL in Bejaia in 2022. Amnesty International, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and several other human rights organizations condemned the Algerian authorities for charges of "participation in an unauthorized group" and "denigrating Islam" under Article 46 of the Law on Associations and Article 144 of the Penal Code, respectively.

The Arrest and Detention of Adem Kebieche

On December 19, 2024, Adem Kebieche, a 25-year-old student at Ain Al-Bay University, was distributing flyers about AROPL’s teachings, specifically referencing the Mahdi's Manifesto. Curious students approached him to learn more, but others alerted the police.

The police arrested Adem, took him to the station, and subjected him to a violent interrogation. They searched his phone, asked about his connections to other AROPL members, and questioned his motives for distributing religious materials. Despite his explanations, he was accused of promoting ideas deemed heretical.

Adem was jailed for four days. He was only released after his family exerted legal pressure on the authorities. His release was conditional on a strict warning not to engage with anyone associated with the AROPL or participate in any related religious activities. Authorities threatened to add further charges should he fail to comply. Communication with Adem has since become extremely difficult. This restriction is yet another technique employed to limit freedom of belief and expression, further isolating individuals and communities practicing minority religions.

The summons issued to Adem Kebieche specifies accusations of "mocking what is known of religion" without substantive evidence. These charges, stemming from Algeria’s repressive blasphemy laws, demonstrate how the state uses the law to suppress minority faiths. These laws, particularly Article 144, are routinely weaponized to silence dissent and punish individuals for peaceful religious expression. The criminalization of peaceful expression and religious propagation contradicts Algeria’s obligations under international human rights law.

The detention and judicial targeting of Adem Kebieche, along with the historical persecution of AROPL members in Algeria, reflect systemic state repression that must end. We call on the Algerian government to immediately drop all charges against Adem Kebieche and cease judicial harassment of him and other AROPL members. We further urge the international community to take note of this pattern of religious discrimination and advocate for the protection of our persecuted members in Algeria.