On April 13, 2026, an investigating judge at the court of El-Bayadh, in northwestern Algeria, ordered the pretrial detention of freelance journalist and human rights defender Hassan Bouras, pending investigation into four different accusations — two felonies and two misdemeanors. As of mid-April 2026, the exact charges had not been disclosed, according to a local journalist who is following the case and spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal. The journalist added that they believe Bouras was arrested for his journalistic work.
Provincial security forces arrested Bouras on April 12, in front of his residence in El-Bayadh. Later that evening, security officers raided his home and conducted a comprehensive search, confiscating a laptop. Bouras was arrested on the eve of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Algeria, where he met religious leaders and the local Catholic community as part of a regional tour.
Bouras is a prominent journalist and former member of the dissolved Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights, known for reporting on corruption and documenting rights violations, particularly in marginalized regions, according to the local journalist who spoke with CPJ.
His detention follows years of judicial harassment dating from 2003. On December 5, 2023, the Algiers Appeals Criminal Court upheld a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 100,000 Algerian dinars (US$760) against Bouras on charges of “insulting a regulatory body” and “publishing and promoting malicious news.” He was acquitted of more serious charges, including “conspiracy to change the regime” and “praising terrorism.”
Bouras had previously been arrested on September 6, 2021,and held in pretrial detention for over a year before being sentenced on November 30, 2022, to two years in prison (including one year suspended) and a fine. He was released after the sentencing, having spent approximately 14 months in detention.
He has also faced earlier arrests and prosecutions, including detentions in 2015 and 2016 over charges related to his reporting.
In April 2026, CPJ emailed to the Ministry of Interior seeking comment on Bouras’ arrest but received no reply.