The funeral of an Algerian activist attracts thousands of people after his death in prison

Thousands of people attended the funeral of Algerian human rights defender Kamel Eddine Fekhar, whose death in custody has been investigated.

Fekhar, a 54-year-old doctor, was one of the leading advocates of the Berber-speaking Mozabite minority.

He was buried in El-Alia cemetery, in the capital, Algiers, where people gathered in front of his coffin and a portrait of the activist.

Fekhar died at Blida hospital, south of Algiers, after being transferred to a "comatose state," his lawyer Salah Dabouz said on Tuesday.

The activist had been on a hunger strike since the end of March, his lawyer said at the time of his arrest for "attacks on institutions".

The Justice Ministry announced on Wednesday that it had ordered the opening of an investigation into the circumstances of Fekhar's death, following criticism by Algerian rights groups and International.

On Friday, protesters who rallied against the ruling elite of the country observed a minute of silence for the activist before shouting at the scene, accusing the authorities of his death.

Fekhar's lawyer said his client had been held in Ghardaia, 480 km south of Algiers, for weeks "in inhumane conditions."

The activist was arrested for the first time in 2015 during unrest in the Mab Valley, where Ghardaia is the largest city in the country, between the country's Moabite community and the Chaamba Arabs.

After spending two years in prison for breach of public order, he was released in July 2017.