Kabyle activists to march from Montreal to Ottawa

Kabyle activists will undertake a 200-kilometre march on Saturday from Montreal to the Parliament of Canada to demand the release of detainees in Algeria.

The Kabyles in Algeria are part of the larger Amazigh or Berber family of Indigenous North Africans. They have their own language and culture, and some advocate for the creation of an independent state, which is deemed illegal in Algeria.

A recent report from Radio-Canada/CBC revealed that a Kabyle man named Massinissa Lakehal was imprisoned by the Algerian authorities mainly to punish his father, Ammar, a Canadian citizen who has long campaigned for the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia.

Massinissa's brother, Syphax Lakehal, will participate in the march.

"These people who are in prison cannot express themselves. That's why we, who are abroad, decided to be the voice of the voiceless," said Malika Absi, one of the organizers.

'For a like on Facebook or on Tiktok, people are imprisoned'

The Algerian authorities did not respond to request for comment regarding Massinissa's imprisonment.

Modifications to Algeria's penal code in 2021 define "terrorism or sabotage" as "any act against state security, the integrity of the territory, and the stability and normal functioning of state institutions."

Amnesty International criticizes this definition as overly broad, arguing it aims to silence peaceful dissent.

"Anyone who aspires to the independence of Kabylia is classified as a terrorist," deplores Absi. 

According to her, even Kabyles who do not favour the region's independence are detained.  "For a like on Facebook or on Tiktok, people are imprisoned," she said.

The march aims to raise awareness of injustices suffered by the Kabyles, she said.

Departure at noon

The march will depart from in front of Amnesty International's office on Sainte-Catherine Street West in Montreal at noon on Saturday Sept. 21. The organization is not associated with the event.

Two activists will be walking the entire way, with other members of the Kabyle community joining them along the route.

Some will be wearing masks, because they fear relatives in Algeria could face repercussions for their political engagement.

Their arrival in Ottawa is scheduled for Sept. 28.

A march in support of Kabyle political prisoners is also currently taking place in Europe. Five Kabyle activists left Brest in France on Sept. 2 and are heading to the UN's European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.