Cairo: 13 January 2019
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) demanded to urgently release Algerian journalist Adlan Malah, director of Dzair Presse website who are detained over an assembly charge; since his health has deteriorated in prison after he continued to conduct his hunger strike for more than two weeks.
Journalist Adlan Malah went on a hunger strike at El Harrach prison in the Algerian capital (Algiers) during the deliberation of his case on 19 December 2018; to side with his defense team who withdrew from the session in protest against the lack of fundamental requirements of fair trial in the case.
On 25 December 2018, Bab el Al-Wadi’s Beiname Court in Algiers sentenced Adlan Malah to one year in prison and a fine of 100,000 Algerian dinars ($ 842), over charges of “unarmed assembly, civil disobedience and insulting a statutory body,” despite the withdrawal of his defense team.
The security services in Algeria arrested Adlan Malah along with a number of protesters following their participation in a protest organized by a group of media professionals and artists on 9 December 2018 in front of the National Theater, to show solidarity with artist Reza Hameimid, aka “Réda City16”, who is also in custody, and call for his release.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said, “We fear that the fate of journalist Adlan Malah would be the same fate of journalist Mohammed Tamalt, who died in prison after he entered a hunger strike when he was put behind bars to serve a prison sentence over opinion articles”.
ANHRI added,” The ruling issued against journalist Adlan Malah is political ruling that violates the Algerian Constitution and all international covenants concerned with matter. We declare that journalist Adlan Malah is a prisoner of conscience. The Algerian authorities have to immediately release him, retry him before courts that meet international fair trial and integrity standards. We also hold the competent Algerian authorities responsible for Adlan Mallah’s life that is at risk of death. “
