Human Rights Watch has accused the Algerian authorities of using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to prevent pro-democracy movements and protests in the country, leading to the arrest of youths as part of social distancing.
hjˈuːmən ɹˈaɪts wˈɑːtʃ hɐz ɐkjˈuːzd ðɪ ældʒˈɪɹiən ɐθˈɔːɹɪɾiz ʌv jˈuːzɪŋ ðə kˈɑːvɪd nˈaɪntiːn pændˈɛmɪk æz ɐn ɛkskjˈuːs tə pɹɪvˈɛnt pɹˈoʊdᵻmˈɑːkɹəsi mˈuːvmənts ænd pɹˈoʊtɛsts ɪnðə kˈʌntɹi, lˈiːdɪŋ tə ðɪ ɚɹˈɛst ʌv jˈuːθs æz pˈɑːɹt ʌv sˈoʊʃəl dˈɪstənsɪŋ.