New York, March 5, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the decision on Tuesday by an Algerian court of appeals to uphold two-month jail terms for two journalists at the Algiers-based independent daily El Watan.
The appeal court in Jijel, nearly 224 miles (360 kilometers) east of Algiers, upheld the convictions of Omar Belhouchet, editor of El Watan, and columnist Chawki Amari. Both were convicted of defaming and insulting the governor of Jijel. The court also upheld a 1 million Algerian dinar ($15,000) fine, Zoubeir Soudani, El Watan’s lawyer told CPJ.