MORE ALGERIAN JOURNALISTS SENTENCED TO PRISON

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001003

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM AG
SUBJECT: MORE ALGERIAN JOURNALISTS SENTENCED TO PRISON

REF: ALGIERS 918


1. Fouad Boughanem and Reda Belhadjouja have been found
guilty of defamation for an article that appeared in 2003 in
Le Soir d'Algerie. Each was sentenced to two months in jail
and 250,000DA fine (US$3,427). In addition, the newspaper
has been fined 250,000DA (US$3,427). Boughamen is the
publication director for Le Soir d'Algerie, and Belhadjouja
is the author of the article which was written under the pen
name of Hakim Laalam. Neither man is in prison pending
appeal. The article contained a satirical criticism of
President Bouteflika and the justices who invalidated the
eighth FLN party congress. It is written in a very
non-professional journalistic manner.


2. At one time Belhadjouja also had a radio show in Algeria
on Channel 3. He was subsequently fired from his radio job
because of similar articles written for Le Soir d'Algerie,
even though they were written under a pen name. According to
Belhadjouja, the prosecutor had recommended the maximum
sentence of ten years' imprisonment, particularly because of
the flippant and insulting tone of the article.


3. The new sentences, if implemented, will bring to eight the
number of Algerian journalists who are sentenced to prison or
currently in prison. Four other journalists have also been
sentenced to imprisonment and are awaiting appeal (reftel).


ERDMAN