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…
CPJ condemns new prison sentence for Algerian journalist Mustapha Bendjama
New York, November 8, 2023 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the additional six-month prison sentence issued to Algerian journalist Mustapha Bendjama on Tuesday, November 7. “Imposing a new prison sentence on journalist Mustapha Bendjama just when he was due to be released shows how determined the Algerian government is to keep independent journalists…
Algerian authorities deliver hefty prison sentences to journalists Saad Bouakba and 3 others
New York, October 20, 2023—Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally drop the charges against journalists Saad Bouakba, Zoubir Fadel, Salim Salhi, and Adel Lazizi, and ensure the media can work freely without fear of imprisonment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On October 18, the Dar el-Beida court in the capital, Algiers, convicted freelance…
Algerian prosecutor requests 5-year prison sentence for journalist Saad Bouakba
New York, October 12, 2023—Algerian authorities must drop all charges against journalist Saad Bouakba and refrain from prosecuting members of the press over their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. At a court hearing in Algiers on Wednesday, the state prosecutor requested a five-year prison sentence and a fine of 500,000 Algerian dinars…