This is a short briefing document which was originally provided by Amnesty International to European decision-makers on asylum claims ahead of an EU meeting on 16-17 December 2002 to discuss the human rights situation in Algeria. Following a later mission to Algeria, the organization made the document public in the hope that it would be of use to all those involved with assessing, supporting or submitting protection claims related to persons originating from Algeria. Apart from changes made to the introduction, the document remained largely intact.