The Supreme Court of Algeria made a decision that shook the country’s community of lawyers and journalists. By rejecting the cassation appeals filed by the lawyers of Ihsane El Kadi, founder and director of Maghreb Emergent and Radio M, the Court confirmed the prison sentence of 7 years including 5 years firm handed down against the journalist. A conviction which had already sparked indignation last April, when Ihsane El Kadi was sentenced to 5 years in prison, including 3 years for “collecting funds from abroad”.
This case raises many questions about the independence of justice in Algeria and raises concern for press freedom in the country. Indeed, Ihsane El Kadi is known for his critical positions towards the power in place, and he is widely considered to be a remarkable journalist and relevant in his investigations.
The increase in his sentence on appeal and the rejection of his cassation appeals reinforce suspicions of a political rather than a legal decision. His press group having been dissolved by the courts in April, Ihsane El Kadi finds himself deprived of his broadcasting platform and is sentenced to spend the next four years in prison.
Faced with this decision, his lawyers plan to turn to international organizations, such as the United Nations, to denounce the political nature of this affair and try to obtain justice. They emphasize that the file on the merits is empty and that this conviction is meaningless from a legal point of view. They claim that their client is the victim of persecution because of his committed journalistic work.
This affair raises numerous concerns about press freedom and the state of democracy in Algeria. The international community and human rights defenders must remain vigilant to ensure that journalists can exercise their profession freely and without being harassed for their opinions or their investigations.
It is essential to support critical and independent voices in the media, which play a crucial role in society by informing the public and exposing abuses of power. The conviction of Ihsane El Kadi is an alarming reminder of the need to protect and defend press freedom around the world.