Ahead of National Press Day, Algerian Journalists Protest against Media Restrictions

Algerian protesters rally in support of journalist Khaled Drareni. (AFP)
Algerian protesters rally in support of journalist Khaled Drareni. (AFP)
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Ahead of National Press Day, Algerian Journalists Protest against Media Restrictions

Algerian protesters rally in support of journalist Khaled Drareni. (AFP)
Algerian protesters rally in support of journalist Khaled Drareni. (AFP)

Dozens of Algerian journalists from public and private media outlets rallied in front of the press syndicate in Algiers on Monday, calling for the release of detained journalist Khaled Drareni and protesting against the authorities' harassment of the media and the judicial and security persecution of journalists.

The rally was held as the country gears up to mark National Press Day on October 22.

Drareni, a correspondent for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and French TV5, was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of "inciting an unarmed gathering" and "endangering national unity".

The protesters chanted in support of Drareni and called for the establishment of a “civil, non-military state”, one of the most important demands of the Hirak protest movement that toppled the regime of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika last year.

They denounced accusations by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune claiming Drareni “gave information to the French embassy in Algeria.” However, this issue was not mentioned in his judicial file, which is still under appeal at the Supreme Court.

Minister of Justice, Belkacem Zeghmati, had previously stated that Drareni is being prosecuted in a case that has nothing to do with his journalistic activity. His lawyers refute the claims.

Drareni was arrested in March while photographing the anti-government protests. He was later summoned for interrogation by the security forces, where he was questioned about the photos and news he published about the popular demonstrations.

Another journalist, Abdelkrim Zeghileche, head of a web-based independent radio station, Radio-Sarbacane, had been sentenced to prison for insulting the president.

The main charges against him were "endangering national unity" and “insulting the head of the state” in a Facebook post, where he called for creating a new political party.

Each year, the government celebrates National Press Day, which was set by Bouteflika.

During the celebration, the “President of the Republic's Award for Professional Journalist" is given for the best journalistic work based on the topics set by the Ministry of Information.

Independent media outlets are known to boycott the event, as opposed to state media that participates heavily every year.



Syria to Take Time Organizing National Dialogue, Foreign Minister Says

 Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani speaks during a press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman, Jordan January 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani speaks during a press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman, Jordan January 7, 2025. (Reuters)
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Syria to Take Time Organizing National Dialogue, Foreign Minister Says

 Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani speaks during a press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman, Jordan January 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani speaks during a press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman, Jordan January 7, 2025. (Reuters)

Syria will take its time to organize a landmark national dialogue conference to ensure that the preparations include all segments of Syrian society, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said on Tuesday, according to state media.

The conference is meant to bring together Syrians from across society to chart a new path for the nation after opposition factions ousted autocratic President Bashar al-Assad. Assad, whose family had ruled Syria for 54 years, fled to Russia.

"We will take our time with the national dialogue conference to have the opportunity to form a preparatory committee that can accommodate the comprehensive representation of Syria from all segments and governments," Shibani said.

Diplomats and visiting envoys had in recent days told Syria's new rulers it would be better not to rush the conference to improve its chances of success, rather than yield mixed results, two diplomats said.

The new government has not yet decided on a date for the conference, sources previously told Reuters, and several members of opposition groups have recently said that they had not received invitations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday time was needed for Syria to pick itself up again and rebuild following Assad's overthrow, and that the damage to infrastructure from 13 years of civil war looked worse than anticipated.

Since Assad's fall on Dec. 8, Türkiye has repeatedly said it would provide any help needed to help its neighbor rebuild, and has sent its foreign minister, intelligence chief, and an energy ministry delegation to discuss providing it with electricity.

Türkiye shares a 911-km (565-mile) border with Syria and has carried out several cross-border incursions against Kurdish YPG militants it views as terrorists.