Press freedom: European Parliament Calls on Algeria to Release Journalist Ihsane El Kadi

Jihane
Jihane
2 Min Read
press freedom

On Thursday 11th May, the European Parliament adopted by a majority of 536 votes a resolution condemning the attack on press freedom in Algeria and calling for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Ihsane El-Kadi, a decision welcomed by several non-governmental organizations that defend press freedom.

Despite the importance of Algeria to the European Union as an economic partner, the Parliament has come out of its silence and reacted to the repression of the independent media in Algeria.

A press freedom organization even urged the European Commission and European states to do everything possible to ensure that this Algerian journalist regains her freedom.

The European Parliament’s reaction comes after journalist Ihsane El-Kadi was sentenced on 2 April to five years in prison, two of which were suspended, and a fine of 700 million Algerian dinars. The Algerian court also ordered the dissolution of her media company and the confiscation of its assets.

Ihsane El-Kadi, a journalist who ran two independent media outlets in Algeria, Radio M and Maghreb, is accused of receiving funds for political propaganda purposes and “undermining state security”.

Concerned about the decline in press freedom in Algeria since the start of the “Hirak” protests in 2019, the European Parliament called for the release of the journalist, while criticizing the criminalization of freedom of expression in the Algerian penal code.

An international campaign in support of the Algerian journalist was launched by several press freedom organizations after her arrest, arguing that the journalist had been subjected to political and judicial harassment for years.

Jihan Rmili

Share this Article
Leave a comment