Algeria’s Forced Return of Asylum Seeker to Tunisia Breaches International Law
Algerian authorities need to explain the legal justification for forcibly returning former parliamentarian and government critic seifeddine Makhlouf to Tunisia on January 18. Amnesty International reports this happened despite Makhlouf being a registered asylum seeker with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and it constitutes refoulement – a breach of international law.
Authorities should establish safeguards to prevent other asylum seekers from facing forced returns without a proper assessment of their protection needs, as required by international law.
“Seifeddine Makhlouf’s forced return violates the principle of non-refoulement,” said Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International. “By handing him over to Tunisian authorities without a chance to challenge the decision or evaluate the risks he faces in Tunisia – including potential arbitrary detention and an unfair trial – Algeria has broken its commitments under international human rights law, including the Refugee Convention.”
the Tunisian authorities should drop all charges against him related to the exercise of his human rights.
Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
“This is especially concerning given the increasing suppression of dissent in Tunisia,where the legal system is being used to silence political opponents,” Hashash added. “The Tunisian authorities should drop all charges against him related to exercising his human rights.”
Seifeddine Makhlouf, a strong critic of Tunisian President Kais Saied and leader of the Al Karama coalition, sought refuge in Algeria in July 2024. He registered with UNHCR as an asylum seeker after experiencing arbitrary detention and prosecution in Tunisia.