FRENCH ACTIONS IN ALGERIA

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28980, 22 August 1959, Page 11

FRENCH ACTIONS IN ALGERIA

Inquiry Urged By , Jurists

GENEVA, August 21. An appeal to President de Gaulle to conduct an independent inquiry into the death of an Algerian, Aissat Idir, after his arrest by French forces in Algeria, has been made by the International Commission of Jurists.

The appeal, from the secretarygeneral of the commission Mr Jean Lalive, says: “In the name of the International Commission of Jurists, which represents a spiritual community of more than 30,000 judges, professors of law and practising lawyers from 52 countries of the free world, I have the honour to draw the attention of your Excellency to the great concern aroused by the ease .of the Algerian trade unionist, Aissat Idir. In view of the alleged circumstances of his death, the communiquie published by the Delegation-Generale in Algeria on July 30, 1959, appears insufficient to reasure world legal opinion.

“In view of the ever-increasing published accounts of facts which, if true, would amount to violations of individual rights and liberties in Algeria, the International Commission of Jurists, trusting in the great traditions of France, considers it highly desirable that a thorough inquiry should be carried out by an independent and qualified body. I respectfully request you to consider urgently the possibility of acting on this request, which would help to dispel the increasing disquiet throughout the world and particularly amongst jurists devoted to the respect for human rights of which France has ; always been - a champion and which were solemnly reaffirmed by the French Constitution of