Journalists attacked in Algeria since 1992
With colleagues sentenced to prison, Algerian journalists fear their new president’s attitude toward the press
Two weeks after the imprisonment of a high-profile Algerian journalist, a former reporter has been sentenced to prison for his online commentary, cementing fears that Algeria’s new president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, is on track to match his predecessor’s record of enacting restrictive policies toward the press even as he has promised democratic reforms. On August 24,…
Algerian journalist Khaled Drareni sentenced to 3 years in prison over protest coverage
New York, August 10, 2020 – In response to an Algerian court’s sentencing of journalist Khaled Drareni to three years in prison today, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Khaled Drareni’s only crime was covering the news. He should not spend one day in jail for doing his job,” said CPJ Middle…
Algerian state prosecutor seeks 4-year sentence for journalist Khaled Drareni
Washington, D.C., August 6, 2020—Algeria’s state prosecutor called for a four-year sentence and a fine of 100,000 Algerian dinars ($788) for journalist Khaled Drareni during the journalist’s first hearing August 3, according to news reports. “Algerian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Khaled Drareni, especially as there is no evidence he did anything except…
Journalists Moncef Aït Kaci and Ramdane Rahmouni detained in Algeria
On July 28, 2020, Algerian authorities detained Moncef Aït Kaci, a former correspondent for French public broadcaster France 24, and Ramdane Rahmouni, a freelance producer and camera operator who contributes to the broadcaster, according to a report by France 24, news reports, and Mustapha Bendjama, a local journalist and press freedom advocate, who spoke to…
Algerian journalist Ali Djamel Toubal sentenced to 2 years in prison over Facebook posts
New York, June 22, 2020 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed dismay at the one-day trial and sentencing of Algerian journalist Ali Djamel Toubal and called for his immediate release. On June 17, a state prosecutor summoned Toubal, a reporter for the independent daily newspaper Ennahar, to the Mohammadia Court in the city…
Algerian journalist Merzoug Touati arrested over protest coverage
New York, June 17, 2020 – Algerian authorities must immediately release journalist Merzoug Touati and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 12, Algerian police arrested Touati, a reporter for the news website L’Avant-Garde, while he was covering anti-government protests in the city of Béjaïa, according to journalist…
Algerian media websites newly censored after “false news” ban
Three additional local news websites have been blocked on Algerian networks since April 22, 2020, bringing the number of outlets affected in April and May to at least six, according to online statements by the websites affected. The intervention came in the wake of a new law against “false news.”
Algeria blocks 3 news websites and criminalizes false news
New York, April 22, 2020 — Algerian authorities must immediately unblock the news websites Interlignes, Maghreb Emergent, and Radiom, and ensure that all media outlets can publish online freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Three newspaper staffers charged with ‘attack on national unity’ over COVID-19 report in Algeria
On April 1, 2020, officers of Algeria’s National Gendarmerie arrested three employees of the privately owned Essawt El-Akhar daily newspaper and interrogated them about a story the paper published that day about the COVID-19 pandemic, according to news reports and Abdelrahman Saleh, the employees’ lawyer, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app.