Yamina

Algeria, Autumn 2025

My name is Yamina Baïr. I am a journalist and human rights defender. I was born and raised in Toudja, a small village nestled in the mountains of Béjaïa, an Amazigh-speaking city in the northeast of Algeria. Life in my village was both monotonous and rich in lessons, awakening curiosity and prompting questions, which nurtured my passion for reading and writing.

After obtaining my baccalaureate, I pursued university studies in Algiers, first in French literature and then in information sciences.

I chose journalism out of conviction. My mission was not only to provide objective information and shed light on injustices but also to resist arbitrariness. I practiced this profession during a period of deep crisis in the Algerian press, when freedom of expression was gradually shrinking, especially after the Hirak of 2019, a peaceful popular movement that led to the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika after nineteen years in power.

Since the Hirak, the authorities have carried out unprecedented repression, targeting journalists, activists, and human rights defenders. Many continue to be harassed, prosecuted, or imprisoned for expressing their opinions. At the same time, numerous associations, organizations, and independent media outlets have been dissolved or closed, silencing the last critical voices.

I have worked for several media outlets since 2015, but the experience that most marked my career was with independent electronic media Radio M and Maghreb Émergent (closed by the authorities in December 2022). I was a producer and news anchor. I also produced a social program, Maranash Saktine, a free space where citizens and civil society actors could express themselves on current issues and share their concerns. I dedicated part of my work to reporting on the state of freedoms in my country.

After the closure of these outlets, continuing journalism became more difficult and riskier, and my work shifted to producing articles. In a climate of media censorship, I was among the last journalists to continue reporting on the trials of prisoners of conscience. At the same time, I participated in national and regional solidarity campaigns, as well as advocacy actions on their behalf.

I am currently a member of the Foundation for the Promotion of Rights (FPRA), an independent organization based in Algeria, where we collectively work to promote and protect fundamental rights.

Joining CAHR is an enriching experience for me. It allows me to meet other human rights defenders working in different contexts, and it is also an opportunity for both professional and personal resilience.