Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ALGIERS1149
2005-06-05 16:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

STATUS ON JAIL SENTENCES FOR JOURNALISTS

Tags:  PHUM AG 
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UNCLAS ALGIERS 001149 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM AG
SUBJECT: STATUS ON JAIL SENTENCES FOR JOURNALISTS

REF: A. ALGIERS 918


B. ALGIERS 1003

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001149

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM AG
SUBJECT: STATUS ON JAIL SENTENCES FOR JOURNALISTS

REF: A. ALGIERS 918


B. ALGIERS 1003


1. There are currently two Algerian journalists in prison,
nine sentenced to prison terms and awaiting appeal, and two
on trial for defamation. It is perhaps worth noting that all
the defamation cases stem from articles written in 2003 or
earlier.


TWO JOURNALISTS IN PRISON
--------------


2. Mohamed Benchicou, former director of Le Matin, is
currently serving a two-year prison sentence for illegal
money transfer and has been sentenced to an additional 5
months in jail for two defamation cases. He has appealed the
defamation convictions. Former Chief Executive Officer of
Errai al-Aam Ahmed Benaoum is currently in prison for
embezzlement of public goods. Benaoum had previously been
convicted of business fraud and defamation, and was released
after serving his sentence. He was later tried and convicted
of the embezzlement charge. The charges were considered
spurious by many journalists and local officials, and
although he was suspected of corruption himself in Oran, some
local officials and journalists believe that he is being
punished for his efforts to expose local "mafia" corruption.


NINE JOURNALISTS SENTENCED TO JAIL AND AWAITING APPEAL
-------------- --------------


3. The following nine journalists have been convicted of
defamation, and all are free awaiting appeal.

--Former Liberte Editor in Chief Farid Alilat was sentenced
to one year in prison.

--In a separate trial, Liberte Publication Director Abrous
Outoudert and Cartoonist Ali Dilem were sentenced to six
months imprisonment for a cartoon published in 2001.

--Publication Director Fouad Boughanem and Journalist Reda
Belhajouja, both from Le Soir D'Algerie, were sentenced to
two months in prison.

--Four Le Matin Journalists have been convicted of
defamation: Youcef Rezzoug, and Yasmine Ferroukhi were
sentenced to three months imprisonment, while Abla Cherif and
Hassane Zerrouky were sentenced to two months imprisonment.


TWO JOURNALISTS AWAITING TRIAL FOR DEFAMATION
-------------- -


4. There are two journalists from Le Soir D'Algerie on trial
for defamation, Kamel Amarni and Fouad Boughanem. The
prosecution is seeking 12 months imprisonment and the trial
date is June 14.


JUNE 14 EVENTS
--------------


5. Journalists from around the world are planning a
gathering in Algiers and Paris on June 14 to commemorate the
one-year anniversary of the imprisonment of Benchicou, at
which time they plan to inaugurate the "Benchicou Journalism
Award". French Journalist Robert Menard from Reporters
Without Borders has requested a visa to attend the event.
Also on June 14, Swiss TV will reportedly broadcast an
investigative report entitled "Imprisonment of Algerian
Journalists and Attempts to Quiet the Algerian Press."

ERDMAN