African Media Barometer Algeria

Freedom of expression is clearly losing ground. On 18 June 2001, public demonstrations were prohibited by government authorities. This was subsequent to the incidents that cost the lives of 130 people including two journalists at a protest on 14 June 2001 that was violently repressed.

A journalist of the privately-owned daily newspaper El Watan also died under odd circumstances after implicating the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Nemenchas (in the Eastern part of Algeria) in terrorism financing and money laundering activities of armed Islamic groups. Furthermore, over a hundred journalists were assassinated during the 90s by "Islamist terrorists".

However, in spite of these risks, panel members believe that many media outlets still continue to exercise their right to freedom of expression. They are nonetheless confronted with a certain number of laws. First of all, decree nr. 92-44 of 9 February 1992 imposing a state of emergency is still in effect. Also, since 2001, new provisions of the Penal Code restrict the freedom of the media and toughen sentences against the media. Finally, the Charter for peace and national reconciliation prohibits referral to past acts of war that are barred by limitation or pardoned.