Pre-Trial Imprisonment in Maghreb

Farida Bouattoura
February 27, 2023

Findings

  1. Tunisia has the most significant pre-trial detention rate in the Maghreb.
  2. Tunisia has had over 50% pre-trial detention rate for over a decade.
  3. Morocco is the Median in the Maghreb with over 40% pre-trial Detention Rate.
  4. Morocco’s Pre-trial detention rate has been consistently over 40% for over a decade.
  5. Algeria has the lowest pre-trial detention in the region.
  6. Algeria, however, has seen a significant increase in pre-trial detention in 2021.
  7. Algeria’s 19% pretrial detention rate is far lower than its neighbors and has had a sharp incline from 8.5% in 2015.

Recommendations

1. Tunisia needs the region’s focus as the nation with the most escalated situation. With a persistent climate of over 50% pre-trial detention, its condition falls far below that of Morocco and Algeria.

2. Morocco’s Human rights community needs to shift focus to the internal situation. With 30 ECOSOC NGOs, focusing on improvements in the pre-trial detention situation can lead to significant progress and can switch trajectories from an over 40% normalcy rate.

3. The Algerian rate, even if doubled, would still be significantly lower than any of its neighbors. Despite the regional comparison, Algerians need to maintain strong advocacy and governmental critiques to maintain their higher standards of political and self-expression. As well as, not letting lower standards fall pass into normalcy like that of the region.  There is indeed a sharp incline in pre-trial detention that is far above the public’s comfort level, and the nation must steer away from an undemocratic trajectory that could manifest regional low standards into Algerian reality.

All information presented has been previously made public in some form or another. This is to safeguard the individuals mentioned and install our Due no Harm Policy.