Adlène Hicheur is a 34 years-old French-Algerian physicist. Holding a doctorate and a post-doc, he was working on the world largest smasher: the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research near Geneva, Switzerland. He was arrested and jailed, suspected of being connected with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). He has been in pre-trial custody for almost 2 years.
Arrest
On the 8 October 2009, while visiting his parents in Vienne, (Isère, France), Adlène Hicheur was arrested along with his younger brother Zitouni, 25 years-old. During the arrest, 13000 Euros in cash were found by the police. This amount of money was in his possession in order to build a house on a land he bought in Setif, Algeria. While Zitouni was released two days later, Adlène Hicheur was kept in custody.
Reason of his arrest
Some sources affirmed that the American intelligence identified suspicious internet communications on a Belgian website. He was said to have discussed with an Algerian member of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Transfer
Dr Hicheur was suffering from sciatica that immobilised him for several months, obliging him to be away from his workplace and to receive heavy treatments. The doctors authorised his transfer from Lyon to Paris if restrained lying down and wearing a surgical corset. Nevertheless, he was transferred sitting and without his corset.
Interrogation
He stayed in police custody for 96 hours at the Central direction of the Interior Intelligence (DCRI). He was interrogated 17 times, day and night without a lawyer. As soon as the interrogation ended, Adlène wrote a letter to oppose the statements he made. His legal representative contested the validity of the custody because of the absence of legal assistance and the conditions in which he was interrogated, incompatible with his state of health. On the 12 October 2009, he was presented to a judge who placed him in detention at the Fresnes prison.
Accusations
No official statement has been made.
He is mainly accused of having discussed on Islamic virtual forums. Nevertheless, it was unofficially said that he was planning the attack of a military base as well as targeted assassinations of important personalities. It took a year to open an investigation in Algeria in order to find the Al Qaeda member with whom Dr Hicheur was accused of discussing. The investigation did not bring any result.
Closure of the procedure in Switzerland
On the request of France, an investigation was opened in Switzerland. Nevertheless, it was closed in November 2010 as
“There was no way to identify the authors of the alleged infraction.”
Conditions of detention
From December 2009 to February 2010, he was placed in the infirmary of the prison due to his back problem. Since then, he has a limited access to health care and has to walk with a cane. Adlène needs heavy treatment that cannot be administrated in the prison nursery. Despite the medical evidence produced, the administration ignores his state of health. In January 2011, he was violently attacked by another inmate.
Secrecy of the procedure
The investigation file and the charges faced by Adlène Hicheur were still secret 16 months after his arrest as the district attorney of the tribunal of Paris has never released officially any information on the case. According to his lawyer, the attorney general of the appeal court of Paris even obtained that all the hearings of Adlène Hicheur were held in secret by an investigation chamber of the appeal court of Paris. The rulings by the court of appeal on his detention were also secret. No trial is foreseen.
Request of release
Dr. Hicheur’s lawyer said she had petitioned for his release at least 15 times and was taking the case to France’s Supreme Court. The last request for release was rejected on the 15 March 2011. The investigating judge expressed his will to prolong his detention until September at least before considering an extension.
Support
Dr Hicheur received a wide support from his colleagues. They felt that he was denied his fundamental rights and were worried about the conditions of his detention but also about its impact on his career. They founded anInternational Committee campaigning for his release. It counts 202 members. Among them, Jack Steinberger, who received a Nobel prize in Physics, 1988 and Jean Ziegler, vice-president of the advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council (United Nations).
Condition
Adlène Hicheur is still imprisoned without knowing if a trial will be ordered. With the consent of his lawyer, he decided to stop cooperating during the interrogations as allowed by law.
Arrest
On the 8 October 2009, while visiting his parents in Vienne, (Isère, France), Adlène Hicheur was arrested along with his younger brother Zitouni, 25 years-old. During the arrest, 13000 Euros in cash were found by the police. This amount of money was in his possession in order to build a house on a land he bought in Setif, Algeria. While Zitouni was released two days later, Adlène Hicheur was kept in custody.
Reason of his arrest
Some sources affirmed that the American intelligence identified suspicious internet communications on a Belgian website. He was said to have discussed with an Algerian member of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Transfer
Dr Hicheur was suffering from sciatica that immobilised him for several months, obliging him to be away from his workplace and to receive heavy treatments. The doctors authorised his transfer from Lyon to Paris if restrained lying down and wearing a surgical corset. Nevertheless, he was transferred sitting and without his corset.
Interrogation
He stayed in police custody for 96 hours at the Central direction of the Interior Intelligence (DCRI). He was interrogated 17 times, day and night without a lawyer. As soon as the interrogation ended, Adlène wrote a letter to oppose the statements he made. His legal representative contested the validity of the custody because of the absence of legal assistance and the conditions in which he was interrogated, incompatible with his state of health. On the 12 October 2009, he was presented to a judge who placed him in detention at the Fresnes prison.
Accusations
No official statement has been made.
He is mainly accused of having discussed on Islamic virtual forums. Nevertheless, it was unofficially said that he was planning the attack of a military base as well as targeted assassinations of important personalities. It took a year to open an investigation in Algeria in order to find the Al Qaeda member with whom Dr Hicheur was accused of discussing. The investigation did not bring any result.
Closure of the procedure in Switzerland
On the request of France, an investigation was opened in Switzerland. Nevertheless, it was closed in November 2010 as
“There was no way to identify the authors of the alleged infraction.”
Conditions of detention
From December 2009 to February 2010, he was placed in the infirmary of the prison due to his back problem. Since then, he has a limited access to health care and has to walk with a cane. Adlène needs heavy treatment that cannot be administrated in the prison nursery. Despite the medical evidence produced, the administration ignores his state of health. In January 2011, he was violently attacked by another inmate.
Secrecy of the procedure
The investigation file and the charges faced by Adlène Hicheur were still secret 16 months after his arrest as the district attorney of the tribunal of Paris has never released officially any information on the case. According to his lawyer, the attorney general of the appeal court of Paris even obtained that all the hearings of Adlène Hicheur were held in secret by an investigation chamber of the appeal court of Paris. The rulings by the court of appeal on his detention were also secret. No trial is foreseen.
Request of release
Dr. Hicheur’s lawyer said she had petitioned for his release at least 15 times and was taking the case to France’s Supreme Court. The last request for release was rejected on the 15 March 2011. The investigating judge expressed his will to prolong his detention until September at least before considering an extension.
Support
Dr Hicheur received a wide support from his colleagues. They felt that he was denied his fundamental rights and were worried about the conditions of his detention but also about its impact on his career. They founded anInternational Committee campaigning for his release. It counts 202 members. Among them, Jack Steinberger, who received a Nobel prize in Physics, 1988 and Jean Ziegler, vice-president of the advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council (United Nations).
Condition
Adlène Hicheur is still imprisoned without knowing if a trial will be ordered. With the consent of his lawyer, he decided to stop cooperating during the interrogations as allowed by law.
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