Law experts: Three laws condemns Mezrag, his return requires a popular referendum

Law experts criticized the recent moves of the leader of what was formerly called “AIS”, Madani Mezrag, and described it as “not respecting the legal procedures of the civil concord, national reconciliation and the law of parties”, and considered that any return of Mezrag or other of those who were involved in the black decade events, requires an amendment to the National Reconciliation Act, and a new popular referendum that allows the participation of the perpetrators of the national tragedy in political activity or the establishment of political parties.

Professor and lawyer who is specialized in the files of the national reconciliation and the fight against terrorism, Azzi Marwane, said that the national reconciliation is clear and the Article 26 confirm that everyone who causes strife or exploited religion to spread sedition is banned from political activity.

“Parties’ law prohibits these people from engaging in political activity through Article IV and this does not entitle it at all. National Reconciliation Charter did not contain any articles that allow their return to political activity or their benefit from the civil amnesty. The file remains at the hands of the President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and the President is the only one who is authorized to legalize their return to political activity. 

“Article 47 of the National Reconciliation Act gives the president broad powers to take the appropriate measure to lift the ban on political activity for them, in accordance with the license it benefited from and re-organize a referendum for decision in the file, saying that the national reconciliation charter gives wide powers to Bouteflika to move if he sees that the situation is suitable.