Khaled Drareni remains in detention. Algerian justice refused Wednesday, May 27, the request for provisional release of the journalist, in detention since the end of March, told AFP the National Committee for the release of detainees (CNLD). Incarcerated at the Kolea prison center, west of Algiers, on March 29, awaiting trial, the journalist has become the symbol of the fight for press freedom.
"The Algiers court indictment confirmed the rejection of the request for the provisional release of detained journalist Khaled Drareni," said Kaci Tansaout, a spokesperson for the CNLD, an association supporting prisoners.
🔴 Last minute:
The indictment chamber at the Court of Algiers "rejects" the request for provisional release of journalist Khaled Drareni. pic.twitter.com/DuPXXJJlxH
End "targeted harassment of independent media"
Director of the online information site Casbah Tribune and correspondent for the French television channel TV5Monde and the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in Algeria, Khaled Drareni is accused of "incitement to an unarmed gathering and of attacking the integrity of the national territory ". The latter had covered, in early March in Algiers, a demonstration of "Hirak", the popular anti-regime movement that shook Algeria for more than a year until its recent suspension due to the epidemic of Covid-19.
"Khaled Drareni has not committed a single offense in the Algerian penal code. He is a journalist who was doing his job. He is accused of having filmed the March 7 march" of "Hirak" in Algiers, told AFP one of its lawyers, Me Mustapha Bouchachi.
"The conditions for putting someone in prison are not met," added the lawyer. "However, he is in prison and there has been no investigation. I consider that the law is not respected by the judicial system in Algeria."
For their part, several human rights and press freedom NGOs, Algerian and international, urged the Algerian authorities to release Khaled Drareni and put an end to "targeted harassment by the independent media".
Dropping 27 places compared to 2015, Algeria is 146th (out of 180) this year in the 2020 press freedom world ranking established by RSF.
Nearly 50 prisoners of conscience and politicians in prison
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March and the forced cessation of the marches, human rights organizations have denounced the repression that is taking place, despite the health risks, against political opponents, journalists and independent media but also against young Internet users who post their opinions on Facebook.
According to the last count of the CNLD, nearly 50 prisoners of conscience and politicians are still in prison. Among them, Hicham Sahraoui was sentenced on Wednesday to one year in prison, including six months closed by the court in Ain Temouchent (west), according to the CNLD.
In addition, Toufik Hassani, a former famous police officer in Algeria, arrested on several occasions after having taken a public position in favor of "Hirak", was heard on Wednesday by the investigating judge at Ténes prison (west of 'Alger), where he has been imprisoned since his arrest, the same day as Khaled Drareni.
According to its defense committee, the Hassani case is still under investigation. He is accused of five crimes, in particular "of attacking the integrity of the national territory", "direct provocation to an unarmed assembly" and "assault or violence against the security services".
At the end of the investigation, the five counts can be retained. The examining magistrate can also order dismissal for each of them.
With AFP
The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribeTake international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app
google-play-badge_FR