Paris, 21 January 2026. On 30 July 2025, Nassera Dutour, bearing her Algerian passport, disembarked from her plane and presented herself at passport control authorities in Algiers. She was then detained and questioned for several hours and ultimately sent back to Paris in a completely arbitrary manner, without any administrative or judicial justification.
Nassera Dutour’s passports were initially confiscated and then returned to her once she had boarded the plane back to Paris. Along with the passports she was given an unsigned deportation report that provided no basis. In fact, Article 49 of the Algerian Constitution guarantees every Algerian citizen the right to enter the national territory. Once back in France, Nassera Dutour began her legal battle. A group of lawyers was created to represent her and they filed for annulment with the Algiers Administrative Court on 14 August 2025. The Ministry of the Interior was duly notified three weeks later, but has yet to respond to the court. After several months of proceedings and of exchanges between the Dutour’s lawyers and the Algerian administration, the case was referred for investigation, which was closed last week.
A troublesome rights defender
Nassera Dutour is a recognized human rights defender in Algeria and internationally. In June 2025, she participated in the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, as a member of the Francophone Feminist Alliance delegation. Dutour spoke on gender-based violence in the North Africa and Middle East region at a side event organised by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
"The arbitrary deportation of Nassera Dutour, an Algerian citizen, constitutes a serious violation of fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. There is a clear link between Nassera’s activism and work and what happened to her. The decision lacks a legal basis and appears to be a form of punishment. Algerian authorities are afraid of a feminist figure who fights against impunity and for truth and justice. This incident speaks volumes about the mindset of those in power", stated Aissa Rahmoune, Secretary General of FIDH.
A serious violation of fundamental freedoms
Denying Nassera Dutour entry into Algeria constitutes a direct violation of the rights to freedom of movement, expression, and association under international human rights norms. The objective is to hinder legitimate cooperation between human rights defenders and international bodies, a violation of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
The FIDH, its member organisations and partners call on the Algerian authorities to:
1. rescind the deportation order issued against Nassera Dutour and guarantee her unconditional right to enter and move freely within Algerian territory;
2. end all forms of reprisals, surveillance, or intimidation against Ms. Dutour, her lawyers, and members of the CFDA;
3. fulfil Algeria’s international obligations, particularly regarding the protection of human rights defenders and cooperation with United Nations mechanisms; and
4. guarantee the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary, including through the effective participation of the Ministry of the Interior in the ongoing proceedings before the Administrative Court of Algiers.
The FIDH, its member organisations and partners will remain fully engaged and will closely monitor the outcome of the hearing on 26 January 2026.