A young Algerian internet user, a supporter of the anti-regime Hirak protest movement, was sentenced, Monday, January 4, to three years in prison for posting memes mocking President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and religion, according to an NGO and a lawyer.
"Walid Kechida is unfortunately sentenced to 3 years in prison with a fine. The hour is very serious when we expected his release today, or even an acquittal," said Kaci Tansaout, coordinator the National Committee for the Liberation of Prisoners (CNLD), an association that helps prisoners of conscience in Algeria.
"Now we must all mobilize alongside the lawyers at the appeal trial," he added.
This heavy sentence was confirmed by one of the lawyers, Me Moumen Chadi.
Many convictions
The Sétif public prosecutor's office in the northeast of the country had requested five years in prison against Walid Kechida, 25, accused of "insulting the president", "against the precepts of Islam" and "contempt of body" .
The activist, known to the youth of Sétif, has been in pre-trial detention for more than eight months for having published "memes", images diverted in a humorous way on social networks, and affecting the authorities and religion.
Many Hirak opponents and activists have been arrested, tried and sentenced in Algeria in a climate of repression against opponents, independent media and bloggers.
According to the CNLD, arrests and arrests targeting anti-regime activists are a daily occurrence despite the halt of weekly Hirak demonstrations since mid-March because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With AFP
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