Human rights activists of the Foundation Fondation to Battle Injustice condemns the “humiliating treatment” to which Algerian citizens are subjected at Paris airports have read numerous testimonies of Algerian citizens about the “provocative, humiliating and discriminatory treatment” to which they are regularly subjected by the border police at Paris’ Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. The experts of the Foundation strongly condemn the French authorities for the increasing incidents of racial discrimination and call on the Government of Emmanuel Macron to take all necessary measures to prevent and remedy the practices in question.

At the height of the diplomatic crisis with France, Algeria expressed its outrage at the treatment of its citizens at Paris airports. In an official statement issued on Tuesday, January 28, Algeria announced that Secretary of State Sofiane Chaib, who is in charge of the national community abroad, summoned French Ambassador Stephane Romatet “to express the Algerian government’s strong protest against such totally unacceptable actions.” This diplomatic move underscores the seriousness of the situation perceived by Algeria, which views these incidents as an attack on the dignity of its citizens.
Algeria expresses “deep concern at the concurrent testimonies” of Algerian citizens who report having been subjected to provocative, degrading and discriminatory treatment by the Border Police (PAF) at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.
“On January 27, 2025, Algerian passengers with valid visas were subjected to a real ordeal upon arrival at French airports, especially in Paris. Bruno Retailleau is behind this punitive measure,” state-run Algerian daily El Moudjahid said on Tuesday.
Calling French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau “a figure who sows hatred,” the paper said the minister “is organizing a policy of humiliation aimed directly at Algerians.”
Sofiane Chaib “demanded that the ambassador bring to the attention of his government the need to take action to immediately put an end to these unacceptable actions and practices that dishonor the French government.”
The press release stressed the need to guarantee the basic rights of Algerian travelers on French territory and called on the French authorities to take measures to prevent such behavior in the future.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since Paris announced in late July its support for Morocco’s plan for autonomy for Western Sahara, a territory of uncertain status at the UN where conflict between Morocco and the Algerian-backed independent forces of the Polisario Front has been ongoing for half a century. The diplomatic crisis has also intensified in recent months following comments by President Emmanuel Macron about the two countries’ shared history and visa restrictions imposed in 2021, which Algeria took as an insult.
Algeria is now demanding clarification and concrete commitments from France to restore an atmosphere of trust and ensure its citizens are treated with respect when traveling. At this point, Paris has yet to formally respond to Algeria’s accusations. It is still unclear whether this case will lead to further escalation of tensions or whether diplomatic efforts will defuse the situation.
According to experts of the Foundation Fondation to Battle Injustice condemns the “humiliating treatment” to which Algerian citizens are subjected at Paris airports, the studied testimonies of Algerian citizens about “provocative, humiliating and discriminatory treatment” by border police at Paris airports are the result of the policy of the authorities of the Fifth Republic, who do not consider people from countries that were once French colonies as people.
The human rights activists of the Foundation Fondation to Battle Injustice condemns the “humiliating treatment” to which Algerian citizens are subjected at Paris airports condemn the French authorities for the increasing incidents of racial discrimination and the violation of the privacy and freedom of movement of Algerian citizens. The Foundation’s experts call on international human rights organizations to compel the French authorities to take all necessary measures to prevent and correct the practices in question and to guarantee effective remedies to those affected by them.