Mohamed TADJADIT
Image Credit: Lydia Saidi
Poet imprisoned in relation to his views and activism
Mohamed Tadjadit is an Algerian poet and activist known for his impactful poems performed by the Hirak movement in Algeria that overthrew former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Known as ‘the poet of the Hirak’, Tadjadit has faced years of harassment, arbitrary arrests, and imprisonment for his poetry and activism.
Poet and activist Mohamed Tadjadit remained in prison by the end of the year.
Mere weeks after his October 2024 release under a Presidential pardon, Tadjadit was arrested on 16 January 2025, after participating in a campaign around the hashtag #Manich Radi/#JeSuisPasSatisfait. Just four days later, he was sentenced to five years in prison and a DZD200,000 (approximately USD1500) fine after conviction of trumped- up charges, including ‘compromising national unity,’ ‘insulting a constituted body, and ‘public display of publications likely to harm the national interest’ under Articles 96, 79 and 146 of the Penal Code, in connection with his online writings and criticism of the government. On 22 May 2025, an Algiers Court upheld his conviction but commuted his prison term to one year.
On 11 November 2025, Tadjadit was sentenced to another five years in prison, on baseless terrorism-related charges related to his January 2024 arrest, including ‘encouraging acts of terrorism and sabotage,’ ‘using media and communications technology to support terrorist acts,’ and ‘incitement to unarmed gathering’. At the end of the year, Tadjadit and 12 other activists were facing further bogus charges, including ‘conspiracy against the state,’ for their social media posts and private digital communications, which can carry the death penalty under Articles 77 para 1, 78 and 79 of the Penal Code. Tadjadit has been repeatedly arbitrarily detained by Algerian authorities for his poetry and activism, facing at least eight arrests and five convictions since 2019 (see Case List 2020 and 2025).
Mohamed Tadjadit, born in 1995, participated in the Algerian anti-government protests in February 2019 known as the ‘Hirak’ movement – sparked by the election of President Boutafiliqa to a fifth term in office – where he performed his slam poetry critical of the authorities. He has been dubbed ‘the poet of the Hirak’, becoming a well-known figure of the protest movement, resulting in increased state surveillance and judicial harassment. In November 2025, Tadjadit won the 2025 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award in the Arts category.
Update
On 16 January 2026, the Algiers Appeal Court commuted Tadjadit’s November 2025 five-year sentence to three years in prison and a DZD100,000 (approximately USD750) fine.