NEWS: Algerian Journalist gets 3-Year Prison Sentence

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 02:35 pm

Free Speech in the Algerian Press

Freelance journalist and a symbol of free speech in Algeria, Khaled Dareni, has been sentenced to three years in prison based totally on accusations of undermining the integrity of the country wide territory.

Three years at the back of bars for, Khaled Dareni, an Algerian freelance journalist and nearby correspondent for French media channels TV5 Monde and Reporters Without Borders (RWB). He has been condemned for “inciting an unarmed gathering” and “undermining the integrity of the national territory” after his media coverage of the Hirak motion on March 7th.

His sentencing solely reinforces his image amongst the Algerian public as Dareni, forty years old age, has come to be a image for the combat for freedom of speech in the press in the country.

This is a very heavy verdict for Khaled Drareni. Three years in prison. We are surprised. The file is empty,” said the lawyer, who is also president of the Algerian League for Human Rights (LADH).

Time in Jail and a Heavy Fine

At the begin of August, the Algerian prosecutor’s office had asked for four years in jail for Drareni and his two co-defendants – two Hirak figures, Samir Benlarbi and Slimane Hamitouche. The prosecutor of the Sidi M’hamed court docket had additionally demanded a heavy high-quality against the three defendants, as nicely as the deprivation of their civil rights.

(AFP)