80 kidnapped in Boumerdes and Tizi Ouzou

About 80 people were kidnapped in the provinces of Tizi Ouzou and Boumerdes (east of Algiers). Of them, 52 in Tizi Ouzou and 27 in Boumerdes. They were kidnapped for ransom.

• Though the government took legal measures about kidnappings and ransoms, people are still victims of threats. Yet, security forces did not move to rescue the kidnapped people except one case in Tizi Ouzou.
•  
• Earlier, the government gave an instruction to freeze kidnapping victim’s banking accounts to prevent any ransom payment. Human rights activists asked to settle the issue correctly instead on tightening the noise on victims and their families.  
•  
• A total of 13 kidnapped people were killed for the last four years as ransoms were not paid. Legal texts stipulate to not pay ransom as it would be considered as crime supporting. This raised fears among victims.
•  
• The president of the National Consultative Commission for Human Rights Farouk Ksentini told Echorouk the government needs to review its position towards kidnappings and ransom.
•  
• “The government’s position about paying ransom to terrorists is inconvertible. It is a wise position but the domestic situation is surrounded by special conditions. The State is supposed to protect victims by virtue of the law and the Constitution,” he added.
•  
• “Things must change by asking for the protection of people who find themselves subject to legal sanctions following a problem in security situation.”