Algerian authorities have arrested two journalists, Sofiane Ghirous and Ferhat Omar of the news website “Algerie Scoop,” for publishing a video that showed businesswomen protesting their treatment at a government-sponsored event. The National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees, a local watchdog group, stated that the journalists were detained for broadcasting material that authorities claimed “constituted incitement and hate speech.”
Journalists in Algeria have faced increasing repression since President Abdelmadjid Tebboune took power four years ago, with experts noting the possibility of long jail terms on flimsy charges. Many news outlets have also shuttered due to mounting legal fees. Ghirous, the editor-in-chief, and Omar, the website’s director, were detained last week. In the video, women start-up founders accused the government of “humiliating” and treating them with “contempt” at an innovation event organised by the Ministry of Education and Professional Training.
Reporters Without Borders recently downgraded Algeria on its freedom of expression index to 139th out of 180, citing “pressure on independent media and threats to arrest journalists.” In June, the popular news website Radio M announced it would cease publication due to “impossible conditions,” while its editor, Ihsane El Kadi, serves a five-year prison sentence on charges of accepting foreign funds for coverage critical of the government.
Additionally, over the weekend, authorities raided the Librairie Gouraya bookstore in Bejaia, preventing the sale of “Shared Kabylia” by French author Dominique Martre. They briefly arrested Martre, the Algerian publisher, and several others, including journalists and activists. Those arrested were released later in the evening.
The crackdown on freedom of expression comes as Algeria gears up for an election in September, with President Tebboune likely seeking a second term.
Melissa Enoch
Follow us on:
