On 20 May 1996, Mahmoud Boumedjria, the managing director of the satirical weekly “El-Kalaa”, was placed on a committal order (“mandat de depot”) by the prosecutor’s office of Tebessa, in eastern Algeria. Lakhdar Khelfaoui, the weekly’s editor-in-chief, was released on bail. Boumedjria was detained following the publication of an article that commented on the absence […]
On 20 May 1996, Mahmoud Boumedjria, the managing director of the
satirical weekly “El-Kalaa”, was placed on a committal order
(“mandat de depot”) by the prosecutor’s office of Tebessa, in
eastern Algeria. Lakhdar Khelfaoui, the weekly’s editor-in-chief,
was released on bail.
Boumedjria was detained following the publication of an article
that commented on the absence of a “wali” (prefect) during an
official ceremony. He was not charged but his request for bail
was denied by the presiding magistrate. He is currently being
held in a prison in Tebessa.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
immediately and unconditionally released
appropriate response to a crime of the media
Appeals To
His Excellency Liamine Zeroual
President of the High Council of State
El Mouradia Presidential Palace
Algiers, Algeria
Fax: +213 2 60 96 18
Minister of Communications
Ministry of Communications
Algiers, Algeria
Fax: +213 2 68 44 59
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
