Rabat, Aug. 20 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) has finally commented on the "arbitrary" arrest of its leading member Ahmed Benchemsi.

On August 9, Algerian security services arrested the Middle East communications and advocacy director at HRW at 2 p.m. The security services held him captive for ten hours.

Authorities also seized his passport. The passport was not returned to him for ten days. Algerian authorities deported him on August 19, according to HRW.

The organization condemned his arbitrary arrest. They also denounced the treatment of Benchemsi by the Algerian security services who prevented him from contacting anyone.

"They held him without allowing him to contact anyone, confiscated his cellphone and laptop computer, and ordered ...