Algeria ‘asphyxiating’ journalists

Algeria has experienced a “progressive asphyxiation” of its media since the re-election of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2014, according to a new report released by Reporters Without Borders.

“Algeria: the invisible hand of power on the media”, released yesterday, highlights the case of journalist Mohamed Tamalt, who died last week in custody after a three month hunger strike to protest his sentence for criticising Bouteflika in a poem.

The British-Algerian’s case “blackened the picture” of the media situation in Algeria, “since this is the first time an inmate has died for opinions published on Facebook,” according to the report.

The situation is only likely to worsen in the run-up to the Algerian parliamentary elections in April, according to RSF.

“Algerian journalists have fought with courage and resilience since the 1990s for the freedom to inform,” Christophe Deloire, secretary-general of RSF, explained.

“Today, we note that under the cover of pluralism, hidden authoritarian practices are harmful to journalistic independence. How far will the Algerian authorities go to stifle the press and those who defend it?”

RSF called on the Algerian authorities to “support the media and civil society organisations defending press freedom in the country in order to encourage the existence and development of a free and independent media.”