(IFJ/IFEX) – On 5 November 1997, Omar Belhouchet, publisher of the independent newspaper “El Watan”, was sentenced to one year in prison. However, the sentence was suspended pending his appeal. Belhouchet was sentenced because of critical statements he had made two years ago on the French TV channels TF1 and Canal+ about the wave of […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – On 5 November 1997, Omar Belhouchet, publisher of
the independent newspaper “El Watan”, was sentenced to one year
in prison. However, the sentence was suspended pending his
appeal. Belhouchet was sentenced because of critical statements
he had made two years ago on the French TV channels TF1 and
Canal+ about the wave of assassinations in Algeria.
**For background to previous harassment of Omar Belhouchet, see
IFEX alerts dated 21 May and 18 April 1996**
Upon his return from the court house, Belhouchet was re-arrested
by police who were waiting for him at his office. He was taken in
for questioning concerning an article published in “El Watan”
that criticised the government for shutting down state-owned
printing presses for three days during the past week. The article
claimed that the measure was intended to weaken public support
for the opposition, which has been holding public protests
against the 23 October elections.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
adding that it is unacceptable that journalists are being
arrested and sentenced to prison terms for exercising their right
to freedom of expression
Appeals To
His Excellency Liamine Zeroual
President of the High Council of State
El Mouradia Presidential Palace
Algiers, Algeria
Fax: +213 2 60 96 18Minister of Communications
Ministry of Communications
Algiers, Algeria
Fax: +213 2 68 44 59Mustapha Benmansour
Minister of the Interior
Algiers, Algeria
Fax: +213 2 73 61 06
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
the Interior
Algiers, Algeria
Fax: +213 2 73 61 06
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact Joel Campagna (x 105) at CPJ,
330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465
1004, fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: mideast@cpj.org,
jcampagna@cpj.org, Internet: http://www.cpj.org/.
