Assil Belalta

An Algerian medical student was murdered in his room when two unknown assailants slit his throat and smeared “gay” on the wall in his blood.

Assil Belalta, 21, was killed on Sunday (February 10) in his student accommodation at the Taleb Abderrahmane campus in Ben Aknoun, a suburb of the city of Algiers, which is part of Cité Universitaire, according to local media reports and a Facebook post from LGBT+ Alegerian rights group Alouen.

Belalta was murdered when two attackers followed him into his room, before cutting his throat and leaving the student to die.

His assailants also wrote “he is gay” on the wall in Belalta’s blood.

Belalta’s Facebook profile states that he is interested in men and women.

Algerian student murdered after throat is cut and attackers write “gay” on wall

The third year medical student was found dead in his room lying in a pool of his own blood.

“This institutional and state homophobia is becoming commonplace,” reads a statement from Alouen on Facebook on Monday (February 11).

“Politicians and some homophobic media are the ones really guilty of this homophobic crime that shook the university city yesterday.”

“And incitement to hatred against sexual minorities in Algeria becomes a common currency to make buzz and pour into populism.

“Politicians and some homophobic media are the ones really guilty of this homophobic crime that shook the university city yesterday.”

Hundreds pay tribute to murdered Algerian student

Hundreds of students gathered outside the medicine faculty at the university on Monday and held a minute’s silence for Belalta, according to local media reports.

Same-sex sexual relations have been illegal in Algeria under Sharia Law since 1966.

Adults caught having consensual gay sex can face a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine.

“Anyone guilty of a homosexual act is punishable with imprisonment of between 2 months and two years, and with a fine of 500 to 2000 Algerian Dinars,” reads Article 338 of Algerian Law.

“If one of the participants is below 18 years old, the punishment for the older person can be raised to 3 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 dinars.”