In many countries of the world, the press is free to carry out its activities without being pressured by the government.
However, in some countries, there are limitations to press freedom and Algeria is one of such.
Algeria is ranked 146th of 180 in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) press freedom index for 2021.
The ‘Crime’
An Algerian journalist, Ihsane El-Kadi, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being accused of breaching national security.
According to a report published on Monday by Voice of America (VOA), the court in Algiers, the state capital, jailed Mr El-Kadi on Sunday.
His website and radio station have been suspended for the next two years.
Mr El-Kadi is rumored to be active in Algeria’s Hirak pro-democracy protest movement in 2019.
According to reports, he was detained on December 23 at his home in Algiers and subsequently accused of receiving foreign funding for his outlets.
Also, Mr El-Kadi was accused of using his outlet as a tool for opposition politicians to point out contradictions or shortfalls in the government’s policies.
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However, three months after his detention, he appeared before the court where he was also ordered to pay a fine of about 700,000 Algerian dinars ($5,200).
The court also ordered that his platforms be dissolved and their assets seized.
Also, a fine of one million Algerian dinars ($7,390) was imposed on its owners.
