Security turn of the screw in Algeria against the Hirak movement
Hirak demonstrators march in Algiers, April 9, 2021. (Illustrative image) REUTERS - RAMZI BOUDINA
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
The 117th Friday demonstration ended on May 14 with numerous arrests.
A dozen journalists were arrested, four of whom are still detained according to Reporters Without Borders, including Khaled Drareni, who has become the emblem of press freedom in Algeria.
The Algerian authorities are cracking down, less than a month before the legislative elections.
Publicity
Read more
There were a little less Algerians in the streets and we expected a little leniency from the police on this second day of Eid al-Fitr.
But the reverse has happened.
Arrests have multiplied from Algiers to Tizi Ouzou.
A dozen journalists were arrested by the police.
Four of them were still detained Friday evening according to Reporters Without Borders: Kenza Khatto, Djaafar Kheloufi, Mustapha Bestami and
Khaled Drareni, who has become the icon
of press freedom in Algeria in the eyes of the whole world.
It must be said that this 117th Hirak Friday was also the first since the authorities tightened the legislation on demonstrations.
From now on, it is necessary to file a request for authorization, to inform the course of the demonstration and to give the identity of the demonstrators, which is impossible for a popular movement like the Hirak, which does not have real leaders.
With this increased repression, the message of the authorities is clear, we believe at RSF: they want to put an end to this protest movement and especially to the report made by journalists, less than a month before the legislative elections, scheduled for June 12.
# Algeria: the authorities continue to send a clear signal to those who would like to cover #Hirak.
8 journalists arrested, some of them twice today, were taken to the Bab El Oued police station.
12 others are blocked and banned from covering the demo.
- RSF_Afrique-du-Nord (@RSF_NordAfrique) May 14, 2021
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Algeria