Serkadji prison mutiny
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The Serkadji prison mutiny took place between 21 and 23 February 1995 at Serkadji Prison in Algiers, Algeria. The catalyst to the mutiny was the escape of 4 prisoners aided by a guard. During the escape attempt 4 guards and one prisoner were killed. After the failed escape the security forces killed 96 prisoners (according to official figures; other sources claimed up to 110) while trying to suppress the resulting mutiny.
Serkadji prison is a high-security prison in Algiers; in 1995, about two-thirds of the 1,500 prisoners present had been accused or convicted of terrorism. On the morning of 21 February, a small group attempted to escape, having been given 4 guns and 3 grenades by a recently-appointed prison guard, Hamid Mebarki. After killing 4 prison guards, they began opening cell doors, and the prisoners quickly started a mutiny. They sought to negotiate with the authorities for guarantees of the safety of those prisoners who had not been party to the killing of the guards; the authorities considered negotiation inappropriate, and ordered them back to their cells. At mid-afternoon, the security forces stormed the prison; shooting and grenades continued until about 11 am the next day. Some human rights groups cited claims that the government had executed prisoners after resistance stopped without due process and shot the wounded. The incident was inquired into in March by the official human rights organization, the Observatoire National des Droits de l'Homme, which supported the Minister of Justice's account. Eight people were later sentenced to death for their parts in the escape attempt.
