Additional Name(s): Slimane Bouhafs, سليمان بوحفص

Gender: Male

Current Location: Algiers

Perpetrator: Algeria

Ethnic Group: Amazigh

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 3 Years’ Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August/25/2021

Date of Sentencing: December/16/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Doctrine) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Freedom Advocacy

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Terrorism

Suleiman Bouhafs

Extra Bio Info:

Suleiman Bouhafs is imprisoned for his alleged expression about religion.

On August 25, 2021, three men in a black vehicle abducted Bouhafs –  Chairman of the St. Augustine Coordination of Christians in Algeria which defends minority rights and freedom of religion in the country – in broad daylight from his home in Tunisia. Bouhafs's whereabouts were unknown for four days.

On August 29, 2021, Bouhafs's family learned that he was no longer in Tunisia and was instead being held in a police station in Algiers, Algeria.

On September 1, 2021, Bouhafs appeared before a judge and was remanded in prison on various charges, including insulting the Prophet Muhammad and several terrorism-related offenses.

On December 16, 2022, an Algiers court sentenced Bouhafs to three years in prison and fined him 100,000 dinars for an alleged association with the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK), which is classified as a terrorist group by the Algerian authorities. Bouhafs denies any involvement with the MAK group. During his December 2022 court hearing, Bouhafs shared details of his August 2021 abduction from Tunisia alleging that his abductors violently put a bag over his head, subjected him to torture, and drove him across the border to a police station in Algiers.

On July 4, 2023, a court of appeal in Algiers confirmed Bouhafs's three-year prison sentence and fine from 2022 for multiple charges, including “belonging to a terrorist organization;” “receiving funds from abroad for the purpose of political propaganda;” “hate speech and discrimination;” “use of technology to spread false information;” and “conspiracy."

Bouhafs originally served prison time for previous blasphemy-related offenses. On September 6, 2016, he was sentenced to three years in prison for “offending the Prophet” and “denigrating the creed and precepts of Islam” (Art.144 bis 2 APC). In 2018, Bouhafs was pardoned and released from prison. He subsequently fled to Tunisia where he held UNHCR-recognized refugee status following his release from prison.  

Sources: