On Tuesday September 8, the Algerian justice will hold the appeal trial of Khaled Drareni. His supporters, whom we have contacted, are determined to obtain the release of the Algerian journalist. Some also say they are pessimistic about a happy outcome.
In the meantime, the mobilization continues to support Khaled Drareni and defend the freedom of the press. A rally takes place every Monday in Algiers, in front of the Press House, in the presence of many activists and journalists. On August 31, around 200 people were gathered. Khaled’s support committee in Algeria asks, in a statement, that he “can appear free at this trial, like his two co-defendants Samir Belarbi and Slimane Hamitouche, sentenced at first instance for the same spurious charges” .
What Khaled Drareni’s lawyers see as “judicial harassment” begins on March 7, 2020. On that day, the 40-year-old journalist has been covering a new Hirak protest, like every week for over a year. There, he was arrested, placed in police custody.
Released under judicial control, the correspondent of TV5MONDE in Algeria then continued his work and made a final appearance on our antenna on March 20. He then mentions the suspension of the Hirak’s protests because of the Covid-19 pandemic. A few days later, a committal warrant was issued by the judges, he was brought back behind bars, officially accused of “inciting unarmed assembly” and “undermining national unity”.
Charges refuted by his lawyers who evoke an “empty file” and denounce a “particular fierceness” against their client. “The documents presented in the first instance do not hold water” assures one of his defenders, Master Zoubida Assoul. For her, “we can only think of an extra-judicial intervention” in this case. She adds: “Algerian justice must finally be withdrawn from any external intervention”.
“Repression of freedom of the press”
According to his relatives, the journalist had been under pressure for several months to end his coverage of the events of Hirak, the popular opposition movement to Algerian power. He had been summoned three times by the Internal Security Directorate on this subject.
On August 10, Khaled Drareni was found guilty in first instance by the Sidi M’hamed court in Algiers of “inciting unarmed assembly” and “undermining national unity”. He was sentenced to three years in prison and 50,000 dinars in fines (around 330 euros).
