(FIJALGER/IFEX) – Two Algerian journalists were sentenced by the Correctional Court of Constantine (400 km east of Algiers) on Saturday 12 February 2000. C. Mechakra, a correspondent in Constantine with the French-language daily “El Watan”, was ordered to pay a symbolic fine of 1,000 dinars (approx. US$16), and a symbolic one dinar in damages was […]
(FIJALGER/IFEX) – Two Algerian journalists were sentenced by the Correctional Court of Constantine (400 km east of Algiers) on Saturday 12 February 2000. C. Mechakra, a correspondent in Constantine with the French-language daily “El Watan”, was ordered to pay a symbolic fine of 1,000 dinars (approx. US$16), and a symbolic one dinar in damages was awarded to the litigant in the defamation suit filed by retired General Mohamed Betchine. The journalist was sued because of an article published on 2 August 1999 which recounted the assassination of the financial director of the Constantine district.
The same court ordered the managing editor of the Arab-language daily “El Youm” to pay a 1,500 dinar fine for his “participation” in the defamation, after a young citizen’s open letter was published in his newspaper which implicated a local religious affairs leader in the killing.