The trial of the head of the Algerian press, Ihsan al-Qadi “Foreign financing of his company”The Sidi M’hamed court in Algiers, which issued its verdict in the presence of the defendants, announced on Sunday, April 2, five years’ imprisonment, three of which have been closed.
In Algeria, freedom of the press is gradually being stifled
The prosecution had requested five years in prison, accompanied by a ban for the same period, against the leader of one of the last independent press groups in Algeria, which includes Radio M and an up-and-coming Maghreb media site.
sequel after announcement
The court also ruled to dissolve Interface Médias, the two media publishers run by Ihsan Al-Qadi, confiscate all of its seized assets, and fine ten million dinars (more than 68,000 euros) against her company.
It also ordered the company to compensate the Audiovisual Regulatory Authority (ARAV) up to 1 million dinars (6,800 euros). Personally, he was fined 700,000 dinars (about 4,800 euros).
Imprisoned since December 29
We will appeal this ruling within the required time frame, subject to prior agreement with our client.Professor Abdel-Ghani Badie, one of the defense lawyers who boycotted the session, told AFP.
Ihsan al-Qadi, who has been in prison since December 29, was accused of a crime “Foreign financing of his company”According to Article 95 bis of the Penal Code. This provision provides for a prison sentence of five to seven years “Anyone who receives money, a gift, or an advantage…to carry out or incite to do actions that would undermine the security of the state, the stability of its institutions and the normal functioning of it, its national unity, and its territorial integrity.”
sequel after announcement
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Ehsan al-Qadi is a suspect Obtaining sums of money and privileges from people and organizations at home and abroad in order to carry out activities that destabilize the security and stability of the state.Then he referred to the Algiers Court.
A wave of solidarity in Algeria and Europe
At the beginning of January, 16 press chiefs from different countries, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, gathered by Reporters Without Borders, called for his release and for the obstacles to be lifted. “unacceptable” target their own media.
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Ehsan al-Qadi was placed in pre-trial detention on December 29 as part of an investigation into illegal fund-raising and alleged assault on state security, after four days in police custody. The day after his arrest, Interface Media headquarters were closed and equipment confiscated.
The arrest of Ihsane El Kadi and the closure of the media offices he heads sparked a wave of solidarity among his colleagues and human rights activists in Algeria and Europe. A petition launched by Reporters Without Borders for his release has collected more than 10,000 signatures.
