Two Algerian journalists arrested for publishing a video of businesswomen protests

Algerian authorities have arrested two journalists for publishing a video showing businesswomen protesting against their treatment at a government-organised event.

Journalists in Algeria face increasing repression since President Abdelmadjid Tebboune came to power four years ago, and now face the risk of long sentences on flimsy charges, experts say. Many media outlets have closed due to rising legal costs.

Sofiane Ghirous and Ferhat Omar of the news site “Algerie Scoop” were arrested last week for broadcasting material that authorities considered “involved incitement and hate speech,” according to a statement Saturday from the National Committee for the Release of Detainees. a local oversight group.

In the video, women who had founded technology companies accused the government of treating them in a “humiliating” and “disdainful” manner at an innovation event organised by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training.

Ghirous is the editor-in-chief of Algerie Scoop — accredited by the government in 2021 — and Omar is the director of the website.

Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders this year downgraded Algeria in its freedom of expression index to 139th out of 180, condemning “pressure on independent media and threats to arrest journalists” in the country.

Popular news website Radio M announced in June that it would stop publishing due to “impossible conditions,” while its editor, Ihsane El Kadi, is serving a five-year jail sentence over allegations that his media company accepted foreign funding for its coverage, which was often critical of the government.

Also over the weekend, authorities raided the Gouraya bookstore in the town of Bejaia, nearly 240 kilometers (149 miles) east of the capital, to prevent the sale of “La Kabylie en partage.” The place had scheduled a book signing by the author, the French Dominique Martre. Authorities briefly detained Martre, the book’s Algerian editor and others, including journalists and activists.

In the book, Martre recalls his experience teaching French in the mountainous region of Kabylia in the 1970s.

The detainees were released that afternoon, lawyer Mokrane Ait Labri, whose journalist brother was among those arrested, told The Associated Press.

The crackdown on freedom of expression came as the country prepares for an election in September. Tebboune is likely to seek a second term as president.

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