HRW deems 'very serious' the rights situation in Algeria

    Algeria, which is under state of emergency since 1992, continued to witness all kinds of human rights breaches, said Eric Goldstein, research director for the Middle East and North Africa division at the US-based rights watchdog.

    The NGOs are banned to hold even meetings and workshops in public places, he said at a press conference, Wednesday in Rabat, for the presentation of the HRW 2009 world report, "an event that cannot be held in Algeria."

    Unlike Morocco, which went through an "encouraging experience" by recognizing the past human rights violations, Algeria prohibits any discussion about its past and this is a very serious matter, Goldstein underlined.

    It is forbidden to talk about the black decade, he said, adding that the families of the victims of forced disappearances are not entitled to know the truth about their relatives.

    In its 2009 report, the HRW drew a gloomy picture about human rights situation in Algeria, condemning the abuses by the police during interrogations.