(Algerian Centre/IFEX) – On Saturday 16 June 2001, in the afternoon, the Council of the Nation (Conseil de la Nation, second house of parliament) adopted the reform bill on defamation provisions in the penal code. The new penal code clauses that cover defamation make provisions for prison sentences ranging from two months to one year […]
(Algerian Centre/IFEX) – On Saturday 16 June 2001, in the afternoon, the Council of the Nation (Conseil de la Nation, second house of parliament) adopted the reform bill on defamation provisions in the penal code. The new penal code clauses that cover defamation make provisions for prison sentences ranging from two months to one year with no parole and heavy fines for insulting the president or a state body. The clauses will be operational once the new text is published in the official journal. This formality should take place within the next few days.
Last month, the National Popular Assembly (Assemblée Populaire Nationale, APN, first house of parliament) adopted the government bill with minor amendments; the foreseen prison terms and fines were slightly reduced. However, the APN did not take into consideration the numerous appeals by media professionals in Algeria and international press freedom organisations, who had strongly suggested that cases involving defamation should be settled in civil rather than criminal courts.