Abdelwakil Blamm, a freelance journalist and political activist, is being held in pretrial detention in Algeria on charges of spreading false news, harming national unity, and belonging to a terrorist group.
On December 29, 2024, plainclothes police officers arrested Blamm outside his home in the Chéraga suburb of Algiers. Two days later, the state prosecutor at the Chéraga court ordered his detention pending trial on charges linked to his commentary on social media and his political activism.
Blamm is known for his popular Facebook page, which has over 15,000 followers, where he regularly reports on local political and social issues. Local journalists told CPJ that his arrest appears to be connected to posts critical of the Algerian government and his perceived support for the #manich_radi campaign, a social media movement denouncing the regime.
Blamm is also a founding member of the Barakat movement, a civilian-led initiative that emerged in 2014 in opposition to then-President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s bid for a fourth term in office.
As of July 11, 2025, Blamm remained held in detention pending trial, according to a local journalist, who is following the case and spoke with CPJ on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal.
CPJ’s email request to the Algerian ministry of interior requesting comment on Blamm’s arrest did not receive a response.