Algeria upholds 7-year sentence for French journalist, convicts 2 others
New York, December 8, 2025—Algerian authorities must cease their legal attacks on the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday, as a seven-year prison sentence was upheld against French journalist Christophe Gleizes, and convictions issued against Algerian columnist Saad Bouakba and Vision TV director Abderrahim Harraoui. On Wednesday, December 3, the Tizi Ouzou…
Algerian authorities arrest journalist Saad Bouakba for comments on independence war
New York, December 1, 2025—Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release veteran columnist Saad Bouakba, who was arrested on November 27 on charges of defaming the late President Ahmed Ben Bella, and drop all charges related to his journalism, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. Bouakba was placed in detention in the capital Algiers…
Algeria sentences French sports journalist to 7 years in prison
New York, July 1, 2025—Algerian authorities must immediately release freelance French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. An Algiers court sentenced him on June 29 to seven years in prison on charges of “glorifying terrorism” and “possessing propaganda publications harmful to the national interest.” Gleizes was arrested on May 28, 2024, in the town of…
Algerian authorities arrest journalist Abdelwakil Blamm, target other journalists
New York, January 6, 2025—Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release freelance journalist and political activist Abdelwakil Blamm, who was arrested December 29, 2024, outside his home in the Chéraga suburb of Algiers, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. “Abdelwakil Blamm’s detention is a troubling escalation of the ongoing crackdown on press freedom in Algeria,” said…
Algerian journalist fined, sentenced to 1 year on insult charges
New York, October 8, 2024—Algerian authorities must release the Djelfa Tribune editor-in-chief, Badreddine Guermat, and should not contest if he chooses to appeal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. The journalist was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 100,000 dinars (US$752) on Sunday, October 6, on charges of insulting a state institution…
Algerian journalist Badreddine Guermat arrested over Facebook post
New York, October 4, 2024—Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Djelfa Tribune editor-in-chief Badreddine Guermat, who was arrested on September 25 at home in the city of Djelfa, south of Algiers, following a Facebook post alleging government mismanagement, and charged with “insulting a state institution,” said the Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday. “The Algerian government continues its relentless attempts…
After prison release, journalist Mustapha Bendjama struggles to rebuild his life in Algeria
After serving a 14-month prison sentence on various charges, Algerian journalist Mustapha Bendjama assumed his life would return to normal as the editor-in-chief of Le Provincial, a local independent newspaper in the northeastern city of Annaba. “I was wrong,” said Bendjama, who was released April 2024. In a phone interview with CPJ, Bendjama revealed that his contract at…
Algerian authorities detain 2 journalists over news report
New York, July 5, 2024—Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalists Omar Ferhat and Sofiane Ghirous, drop all charges against them, and stop arresting journalists for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Algerian authorities arrested Ferhat, director of local independent news website Algeria Scoop, and Ghirous, the outlet’s editor-in-chief, in the…
CPJ condemns expulsion of journalist Farid Alilat on arrival at Algiers airport
New York, April 15, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Algerian authorities to allow Farid Alilat, a journalist and Algerian citizen, to enter the country without fear of arrest, after he was denied entry at Algiers International Airport on Friday. Algerian police detained Alilat on arrival from Paris and questioned him for 11 hours about…
Algerian prosecutor requests one-year sentence for journalist Mustapha Bendjama
New York, December 13, 2023 – Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Mustapha Bendjama and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday. During an appeal hearing held in the northeastern city of Annaba on Tuesday, December 12, the state prosecutor requested an additional one-year prison sentence for…