Algeria’s Burj Bou Arreridj court acquitted prominent Hirak activist Ibrahim Laalami and ordered his release after five months of pretrial dentition.
Hirak activists expect the authorities to reduce its clampdown on demonstrators, after the release of Laalami and 14 other protesters, who were arrested five months ago after major protests against the local authorities. The march was led by Laalmi who was seen in a video arguing with a local official on citizens' rights and freedoms.
Meanwhile, the National Council of Algerian Journalists sent a letter to Ministers of Information and Justice describing the difficult conditions journalists have to endure with part of them imprisoned and prosecuted.
The Council explained that some journalists stopped receiving their wages after many newspapers halted their publications following the spread of coronavirus, exacerbating their psychological and social pressures.
It also addressed the case of journalist Khalid Drareni who has been in pretrial detention since March 27. Drareni, a correspondent for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and French TV5, is accused of “unlicensed protesting” and “incitement against national unity.”
On March 07, Drareni was about to take pictures of demonstrators when security men arrested him and took him to a security center in Algiers’ eastern suburb, where he was detained for three nights along with several political activists.
The Council also discussed the case of three journalists from the Assawt newspaper, who were put under judicial supervision earlier this month because of an article that questioned the validity of the coronavirus tests conducted by the Pasteur Institute of Algeria.
In addition, Algiers’ misdemeanor court sentenced journalist Sofiane Marrakchi to eight months in prison for violating customs laws.
Marrakchi, a Lebanese channel correspondent in Algeria, was accused of importing television equipment without paying customs. The journalist denies the allegations and confirms that he has bought them from a commercial electronic platform, adding that his colleagues use similar equipment and have not faced any problems.
A week ago, the government blocked an e-newspaper and a radio of its subsidiary, claiming they were "receiving foreign funding", which was denied by its managing director, Qadi Ehsan.
Also, journalists and workers of media complex owned by businessman Ali Haddad, including two newspapers and two satellite channels, are facing major problems after the administration stopped paying their wages eight months ago.
Haddad is imprisoned on corruption charges after ousting former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika a year ago.
The employees’ issues with the administration started before Haddad’s imprisonment and many resigned without taking their dues, while others remained working in the hope that the authorities would find a solution for their problems.
