Popular Algerian Hirak activist arrested over TikTok live, 'glorifying terrorism'

An Algerian Hirak-era activist who went viral for the protest movement's slogan has been placed in pre-trial detention after being arrested on the grounds of glorifying terrorism, in the latest case of its kind targeting the major protest movement’s demonstrators.

Mohammed Bakir Torki, also known as Soufiane, was remanded in custody after the Sidi M'hamed Court in the capital, Algiers, brought several criminal charges against him.

The accusations brought against the activist, which also include disseminating false information via social media, are related to his participation in a TikTok live broadcast in June this year. Authorities accused Bakir Torki of glorifying and praising terrorism, and undermining public security and public order.

Bakir Torki was arrested on Sunday at his workplace at the Directorate of State Property in Algiers, where he works as a security officer. He was then placed in police custody until Wednesday, before being brought before the Public Prosecutor in Sidi M’Hammed.

The judge thus ordered his placement in pretrial detention and the opening of a judicial investigation.

Bakir Torki is known for coming up with the phrase "Ytenehaw ga3," which translates to "May they all leave" in Algerian Arabic. It quickly became the slogan of the Algerian Hirak protest movement between 2019 and 2021.

The sentence was first heard after he interrupted a local correspondent of the television channel Sky News Arabia on 11 March 2019, after ex-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced he was giving up a fifth term. The clip went viral and marked a significant moment for the Algerian Hirak protest movement.

The slogan was used to call for the departure of Algeria's ruling political elite who benefited from Bouteflika’s rule from their posts, and to make way for change.

Bouteflika had been president for 20 years, and announced a fifth term in 2019, triggering mass protests and anger across the North African nation.

Following this, the military insisted on Bouteflika's immediate resignation, which took place on 2 April 2019. Bouteflika passed away from illness in September 2021 at the age of 84.

The protests became the most significant political movement in the country since the 1962 fight for independence, and saw the arrest of several political leaders closely associated with Bouteflika, and the ushering in of elections, which current President Abdelmadjid Tebboune won by 58%, following a 40% turnout.

The Hirak movement saw over 1,200 people arrested, including activists, journalists, and other prominent members of civil society.

Among them are Karim Tabbou, an opposition politician who was arrested in September 2019 and later sentenced to a year in prison on charges including "incitement to violence" and "harming national security".

Others include journalists Fodil Boumala, Khaled Drareni, and Ihsane El Kadi.

The latest activist to be punished for taking part in the Hirak protest is Mohamed Saïd Riahi, who was arrested in June, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a 200,000-dinar fine for a post on Facebook.