Algerians continue to fight violence against women

Algerians have gathered in the north city of Bejaia to protest against violence aimed at women.

“Yesterday Razika, Amira today, tomorrow it could be me”; “the awakening of society begins with the emancipation of its women ” and “my body, my choice, my rights, in short, my life”, were signs that dominated the demonstration which was notably attended by more men than women.

The protest was aimed at raising awareness surrounding the increase in violence against women and social attitudes towards the victims.  The protest honoured Amira Merabet who was burned alive for refusing a man, Razika Cherif who was brutally crushed by her stalker’s car and women who died during Algeria’s civil war for not conforming to extremists.

“The killing of women does not start today, remember the 1990s,” one of the union representatives at the protest, Rabah Rezki said.  “Last year, we were there to denounce the assassination of Razika, unfortunately we return today to denounce another crime, that of Amira Merabet, and I hope we will not end up here again after another assassination.”

“Until indignation does not prevail and mobilisation [remains] missing we will continue to suffer these tragedies every day”, one of the attendees said.

“The state does not ensure the safety of citizens,” head of the Documentation Centre of Human Rights, Hocine Boumedjane, said at the protest.

“It is not just the murder of Amira Merabet, but a crime that affects all women,” activist Chafia Amiri explained.

“We must mobilise as workers, students and the unemployed. It is a daily struggle,” an activist stressed.