Algeria Annuls Bill Stripping Opposition Citizens Abroad of Nationality

The Algerian government annulled on Sunday a decision it had taken to strip the nationality from opposition citizens residing abroad should they commit acts that are liable to “seriously damage the interests of the state or harm the national unity.”
The
government had announced the bill in March. It was strongly denounced by the
popular anti-government protests. It mainly targeted opposition figures in
Europe.
In
interview with two local newspapers broadcast on public television, President
Abdelmadjid Tebboune said he ordered the annulment of the draft bill because it
caused “misunderstanding” among the people.
He
stressed that the “minority of minorities cannot force us to ratify laws that
do not concern the Algerian people.”
His
statements were understood as a reference to Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad,
who had submitted the bill without first consulting with the president, who is
head of the executive authority in the country.
On
March 3, the PM’s office said the bill will apply to people who join, finance
or glorify a terrorist organization.
The
law also applies to “everyone who deals with an enemy country.”
It
explained that the law was in line with international conventions and
guarantees the right to appeal, without providing more details.
On
the same day, government spokesman and Minister of Communication, Ammar
Belhimer, said Justice Minister Belkacem Zeghmati presented a second reading of
a preliminary draft on the nationality law.
The spokesman said the bill includes introducing a system to strip citizens of the original or acquired Algerian nationality.