Khaled for the Algerian site Casbah Tribune and French TV5 Monde. He is also part of the press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders' network of correspondents who report on press freedom issues.

Serious deterioration

Drareni was arrested in March while guarding a demonstration. In June, three more journalists were arrested in Algeria on similar grounds.

He is convicted of encouraging armed insurgency and of endangering national unity. Reporters Without Borders has seen a serious deterioration in press freedom and the situation of journalists in Algeria during the pandemic.

Extra exposed


- The verdict against our correspondent Khaled Drareni is the culmination of a long period of legal harassment against a critically acclaimed and independent journalist. Unfortunately, our correspondents are particularly vulnerable, such as Erol Önderoglu, in Turkey, who has endured years of legal persecution. The behavior is disgusting and goes completely against everything called the rule of law. Algeria's legal system today clearly shows that it is an enemy of press freedom, says Erik Halkjaer, Chairman of Reporters Without Borders Sweden