After the announcement on Tuesday of the conviction on appeal of Algerian journalist Khaled Drareni, symbol of the fight for press freedom in Algeria, support has multiplied to demand his release.

Because behind this prison sentence, it is a popular movement that the government seeks "to silence," says RSF. 

He is the symbol of the fight for freedom of the press in Algeria.

This Tuesday, Algerian journalist Khaled Drareni was sentenced on appeal to two years in prison for having criticized on Facebook "the corruption and money" of the Algerian political system.

But after the announcement of this sentence, dozens of demonstrators deployed a portrait of the journalist on the town hall of the 3rd arrondissement of Paris to demand his release.

His portrait hanging on the town hall of the 3rd arrondissement of Paris

And this is not the only support that the former correspondent of Europe 1 in Algiers has received in recent hours.

The mayor of Paris has announced its intention to speak during this gathering, while the TV5 Monde channel, one of Khaled Drareni's employers, is also represented.

Friday, another portrait of the journalist will be hung on the town hall of Lyon.

Precious support for Christophe Deloire, Managing Director of Reporter Without Borders, an organization for which Khaled Drareni is the representative in Algeria. 

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Algeria: the support of French journalists for their colleague Khaled Drareni

Support that is increasing in several countries

"This is obviously a very positive sign and a signal which, I hope, will be received in Algeria," he said.

Because behind this mobilization "there is a stake: to make the Algerian authorities understand that this pressure cooker strategy, which consists in wanting to silence a popular movement by silencing the media coverage, is dangerous, explosive and

ultimately

undermines

the legitimacy of the regime ".

And this support is also increasing in other countries, such as Algeria, the United States and Tunisia. 

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Towards a cassation appeal

Jailed since March 29, Algerian journalist Khaled Drareni, 40, was arrested after covering March 7 in Algiers a student demonstration as part of the "Hirak" movement, the popular anti-regime uprising.

He was sentenced at first instance on August 10 to three years' imprisonment for "inciting unarmed assembly" and "undermining national unity".

For their part, the journalist's lawyers are already preparing the response, and intend to appeal to the Supreme Court.