Cherif Mellal is the former coach of Kabylia’s flagship team. JSK. For the last two years, he has been one of the Kabylian hostages imprisoned in Algeria for the sole crime of being Kabylian. Algeria accuses him of threatening the unity of the state.
Press release from the family of Cherif Mellal
The long-awaited trial of Chérif Mellal took place today at the Sidi M’hamed court. After more than 21 months in pre-trial detention, our brother, our father, our son finally had the opportunity to make his voice heard and reveal the truth, the whole truth.
During the long hours of the hearing, Chérif Mellal defended his honour with unshakeable determination, unfailing courage and disarming sincerity. He held high the torch of his name, his career and his unshakeable attachment to his country.
The trial brought to light what we have been proclaiming all along: Chérif Mellal’s total innocence. The accusations against him collapsed like a house of cards in the face of the rigour of the defence. One by one, his lawyers dissected the elements of an empty case file, revealing the manipulations and lies that made it up.
We, the family of Chérif Mellal, wish to express our deep gratitude to this brilliant team of lawyers, led by Maître Ali Laouari, Maître Fetta Sadat, Maître Abdenour Ouacel, Maître Malik Kouribeche, Maître Aïcha Zemit, Maître Abdellah Heboul, Maître Soufiane Dekkal, Maître Yamina Alili, Maître Said Zahi, and Maître Younsi Kahina. Their pleadings highlighted Chérif Mellal’s resounding innocence and forcefully demanded that he be acquitted outright.
Our heartfelt thanks also go to Maître Radia Iguedad, Maître Nadia Benkhrouf, Maître Chibane Dalila, Maître Meriem Meftah, and all those tireless lawyers and defenders who, with a deep respect for their profession and a keen sense of justice, assisted Chérif Mellal and our family throughout this painful ordeal.
To all those, known and unknown, who have shown their support and solidarity with Chérif Mellal during these 21 months of detention, we simply say thank you. Your presence, your words, your commitment have carried us through these dark hours. You have been our strength.
Today, we are calling for justice to be done at last for Chérif Mellal. We are calling for him to be acquitted without delay. It is high time that the truth triumphed and that Chérif Mellal finally regained his freedom, because as Gandhi said:
‘When I despair, I remember that throughout history the path of truth and love has always triumphed. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a while they may seem invincible, but in the end they always fail. Think about it, always.’
Chérif Mellal is innocent. We will not stop until this truth is recognised and justice is done.
The Mellal family
09/10/2024