The Algiers court sentenced Algerian press boss Ihsane El Kadi to five years in prison, including three years in prison. Fervent opponent of the regime, he has been imprisoned since the end of December. Human rights defenders denounce an injustice.
Algerian press boss Ihsane El Kadi, prosecuted for “foreign financing of his business”, was sentenced on Sunday to five years in prison, including three years in prison, announced the Sidi M’Hamed court in Algiers, which delivered its verdict in presence of the accused on 2 April.
On March 26, the prosecution had requested five years in prison, accompanied by a ban on practicing for the same period against the leader of one of the last independent press groups in Algeria, which includes Radio M and the Maghreb Emergent news site.
Imprisoned since December 29, Mr. El Kadi, director of the Algerian station Radio M and the information site Maghreb Emergent, two independent media quite critical of the Algerian power, is accused of “foreign financing of his company”.
The prosecution had also requested the seizure of “property and funds” from the press boss as well as a fine of 700,000 dinars (nearly 4,800 euros). Ten million dinars (more than 68,000 euros) ofwere also required against his company Interface media, which publishes Radio M and Maghreb Emergent.
Reporters Without Borders demands his release
Algeria is in 134th place out of 180 countries in the world press freedom ranking established by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in 2022. A petition launched by RSF to obtain the release of the Algerian journalist has collected more than 10,000 signatures.
🔴📢 URGENCE : Ihsane El Kadi est journaliste. Directeur de @radioM_me et @maghrebemergent, il est en prison pour avoir informé. Libérons-le le plus vite possible en faisant pression. Vous pouvez nous aider en signant la pétition #FreeIhsaneElKadi https://t.co/TsvjYRCqQ8 pic.twitter.com/J3IAJ0VLj4
— RSF (@RSF_inter) January 27, 2023
Ishane El Kadi is being prosecuted under article 95 bis of the Penal Code. This text provides for a prison sentence of five to seven years for ” anyone who receives funds, a gift or an advantage… to carry out or incite to carry out acts likely to undermine the security of the State, the stability and the normal functioning of its institutions, national unity, territorial integrity, interests”.
Ishane El Kadi is suspected ” of having received sums of money and privileges from people and organizations in the country and abroad in order to engage in activities likely to undermine the safety of the State and its stability “, had then indicated the Court of Algiers.
