Algeria: Medjnoun Malik begins hunger strike in hopes of being tried after 10 years preventative detention

After more than 10 years since his abduction by Algerian secret services from the Department of Research and Security (DRS), Malik Medjoun remains abducted awaiting trial. On 25 February 2010, he began an indefinite hunger strike in order that he finally be brought to justice.

Malik Medjnoun is accused of involvement in the June 1998 assassination of Matoub Lounes, which he has always denied. He was abducted near his home on 28 September 1999 by the DRS and held incommunicado at DRS barracks near "Antar", Ben Aknoun (Algiers). During eight months he was tortured at lengths: wet cloth, electricity, etc.) It was finally on 5 May 2001 that he was presented before the criminal court in Tizi-Ouzou, however his case was postponed indefinitely.

Malik's brother was promised by the Court officials that brother would be tried in December 2009, however this was never the case. In the face of injustice, Malik Medjnoun's only consolation is a hunger strike.

Malik Medjoun's case was submitted to the Human Rights Committee on 11 June 2004, which ruled on his complaint on 14 July 2006. According to its finding, the Committee granted all requests and urged the Algerian authorities to:

"Allow Malik Medjnoun to immediately appear before a judge, in order that he answer the charges against him or that he be liberated; to instigate an investigation on his incommunicado detention and ill-treatment he suffered since his abduction on 28 September 1999, and that criminal proceedings be initiated against those responsible for these violations."

During the procedure, in a letter dated 28 December 2004, the Algerian government informed the Human Rights Committee that "the case would be submitted shortly for trial to the criminal court in Tizi-Ouzou."