Press and other media in Algeria

[Al-khiyal]

CAPSULE REPORT: Journalist sentenced to six months in prison, another released; RSF urges European Parliament to take diplomatic steps to press for free expression

Country/Topic: Algeria
Date: 03 March 2006
Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Person(s): Mohamed Benshicu, Ali Dilem, Kamel Busaad, Berkan Buderbala, Bashir al Arabi, Hakim Laalam
Target(s): editor(s) , journalist(s)
Type(s) of violation(s): released , imprisoned , sentenced
Urgency: Flash
(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 2 March 2006 RSF letter to European Parliament President Josep Borrell Fontelles:


Reporters Without Borders plea to EP President Josep Borrell over free expression in Algeria

On the eve of Josep Borrell's official visit to Algeria from 6-12 March 2006, Reporters Without Borders called on the President of the European Parliament to take diplomatic steps to press for human rights and free expression in the country.

Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles
President of the European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
B-1047, Brussels

Paris 2 March 2006,

Dear Mr President...

[snow_white]

I wonder if he could make a change to it

[phylay]

I am sure he won't

[phylay]

L’auteur de la célèbre phrase-ritournelle, le chroniqueur du journal Le Soir d’Algérie, Hakim Lâalam, vient d’être condamné par la cour d’appel d’Alger à six mois de prison ferme. En première instance, Lâalam avait écopé de la même peine, mais avec sursis.
Le cauchemar continue, en effet, pour la petite communauté de journalistes algériens dont trois membres sont déjà sous les verrous. Le rouleau compresseur actionné par la justice, un certain 14 juin 2004, date à laquelle Mohamed Benchicou, directeur du Matin, avait été jeté en prison et son journal liquidé, continue à broyer inexorablement les professionnels des médias privés dans une indifférence quasi totale.
Une menace avérée pèse sur au moins 18 journalistes condamnés en 2005 à de lourdes peines de prison. Trois directeurs de journaux : Fouad Boughanem (Le Soir d’Algérie), Ali Djerri (El Khabar) et Omar Belhouchet (El Watan) cumulent à ce jour respectivement, 13, 11 et 10 condamnations pour délits de presse. Le caricaturiste du journal Liberté, Ali Dilem, lauréat de plusieurs prix internationaux, a été condamné 12 fois pour délit d’humour, alors que Benchicou, harcelé par la justice jusque dans sa cellule de prison, totalise pour l’instant, à lui seul, 32 procès pour délit de presse.
De là à considérer les journalistes et les dirigeants de journaux parmi les plus importants, faut-il le rappeler, comme “délinquants multirécidivistes”, il n’y a qu’un pas que l’appareil judiciaire, totalement inféodé au régime, n’a pas hésité à franchir, ravalant l’Algérie à un rang indigne des sacrifices de ses enfants.
Face à ce vrai putsch contre les libertés constitutionnelles, le Comité Benchicou pour les Libertés ne cessera pas d’alerter l’opinion interne et internationale sur ces atteintes multiples à la liberté de la presse et, à travers elles, à l’idéal démocratique dans ce pays.
Convaincu que la liberté de presse est un acquis citoyen et sa défense un devoir qui s’impose à tous, il appelle, de nouveau, les Algériennes et les Algériens à s’opposer, dans un sursaut pacifique et émancipé, aux actes liberticides du régime en place en disant non à la mise à mort de la liberté de la presse.

[phylay]

From Elkhabar

Farouk Ksentini, president of the Consultative Commission for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, has indicated that he will expose his preoccupations concerning journalists' imprisonment and Judicial suits during the meeting which he will have today with the president of the European Parliament Josep Borrell. They will talk about human rights' situation in Algeria.
Ksantini has indicated, in a declaration to "El khabar" yesterday, that he will transmit his fears concerning the situation of the Algerian press to the president of the European Parliament " I will talk with Mr. Borrell about the pressure exercised on the press and will express my fears concerning journalists imprisonment. I think that we can not incriminate any journalist for his writings, there are other ways to punish him if the accusation of defamation is proved, but his imprisonment is unacceptable". It is an allusion to the manager of "Le Matin" Mohamed Benchico, Sâad Boukahal manager of "Ikra" and Borkane Bouderbala manager of "Eressala".

[Al-khiyal]

The latest edition of the French weekly 'Jeune Afrique' harshly criticised the Algerian government for censoring the press, after the Algerian cabinet blocked the distribution of an issue of the magazine last month for an article on Madani Mezrag, the former leader of the armed wing of the Islamic Salvation Front. "We aren't the only victims of Algerian censorship. Since the beginning of the year, almost 50 episodes of censorship have targeted French papers ... including Le Monde, L'Express and Paris Match," the editorial said.....

French weekly criticises Algerian Press freedom

[Al-khiyal]

The directors of two weekly newspapers Errisala and Essafir, who were arrested for republishing the blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), have been released, the Algerian press has reported.

Berkane Bouderbala (Errissala) and Kamel Boussad (Essafir) were sent to prison in February on a warrant issued by the Algerian Ministry of Communication, on the basis of Penal Code articles that prohibit all blasphemy against the Prophet and Islam.

The two weeklies were suspended after they republished the cartoons as part of articles that denounced the drawings.

Other Algerian journalists working for the news office of the Algerian television have been arrested on similar charges.

Source : Morocco Times

Editors released as cartoon scandal cools down