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Ahmed Zaoui back in the news

1 min read

The Algerian activist Ahmed Zaoui, who fled to New Zealand in 2002 seeking refugee status and eventually gained citizenship in 2014, is back in the news! He has been arrested again in Algeria (where he has been living) for his outspoken political views.

His New Zealand lawyer said Zaoui expected our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to help sort this out as he’s a NZ citizen. No doubt our generous government will be footing the bill. Unbelievable!!

J.E. Hansen


1 comment

commenter avatar
Manu Caddie
0
10 October 2023
Ahmed Zaoui came here as a refugee and has returned to Algeria because the political situation seemed to be improving - it seems not enough to allow freedom of expression and criticism of the ruling party. So he was arrested last week by masked gunmen from the Algerian armed forces and held with no charges other than reference to comments he made about the state of Algerian democracy.

The New Zealand government should support him and all other citizens that speak up for human rights in Aotearoa or elsewhere. New Zealand citizenship is conferred on those who happen to be here, and those who prove themselves worthy.

Ahmed Zaoui has done a shit-tonne more than most of us to earn the right to be supported by the New Zealand government when he is arbitrarily detained for promoting values many of us like to claim are hallmarks of the system we have here.

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