A prominent role of the military forces appeared in practicing all types of repression against peaceful protests, student movements along with torture and imprisonment during 2018.

Students, politicians, journalists, and bloggers are the most sectors who underwent repression. Algerian journalists are working on creating a safe zone to practice freedom of journalism guaranteed by the constitution, such efforts are thwarted by the authorities led by Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, 80 years old, seeking another presidential term next April.

On 24th March 2018, President Bouteflika announced preparing a draft law on cybercrime. In a speech recited by the Minister of Justice, on behalf of Bouteflika, on “The National Day of Lawyers”, he did not set a date for submitting such a draft. About 30 publishers, on the 2nd of May, demanded in the media to issue a law for news websites in order to have a legal framework that guarantees their and the internet press workers rights to enable them to work without restrictions.

For three years, the Algerian authorities blocked social media during the exams of baccalaureate under the pretext of preventing “collective cheating”.

The following are some examples of violations against freedom of expression and press freedom:

 

Violations against journalism and websites

• The year 2018, started with assaults against reporter Yasser Mostafa by the head of Wefaq Satif club.

The reporter was covering the training of Wefaq Satif club on the 16th of January, after being defeated in the league. A clash took place between Mostafa and Hassan Hammar, the head of the club, which led to an assault committed by Hammar and some players against the reporter.

The reporter was transferred to hospital in an ambulance, as he had bruises in his head, hands, and feet.

• On Friday night, 1 June 2018, security force arrested Said Bedour, a journalist, from Wahran city, after stopping him on his way back after attending the Algerian Association for Human Rights.

Bedour was arrested after writing two articles about a trial of passing a huge amount of drugs on board of a ship in Wahran coasts, in which he accused ministry of defense and interior of failing to protect the borders.

The journalist was accused of “insulting a governmental authority and publishing content that damages national unity”, after publishing his article on his social media account.

The defendants included in this case are, Adlan Malah, journalist and the director of “Algerie Directe” website and Khelaf ben Hedda, the owner of the website, along with Brahma Mohamed, a technical in the website.

The prosecution released Said Bedour and referred the case to court.

• On 20th June, concurrently with the commence of baccalaureate exams, telecommunication ministry announced blocking Facebook, twitter and YouTube websites, in order to “confront collective cheating”.

This is not the first time the Algerian government blocked social media websites during exams, it has been taking place for three years since 2016.

• On 9th October, Algerian intelligence arrested Ismail Jerbal, a journalist,  editor-in-chief of al Nahar channel and the director of the French version of the website, on the background of an article he wrote about the Algerian intelligence.

The channel broadcast a video of arresting him while leaving the channel to headquarter. He was arrested after an article in which he was tackling the intelligence’s performance, the article was published on the ELG 24 website.

A few days later, the public prosecution released Jerbal after a media campaign protesting pursuits of column writers.

• In the same month, security forces arrested Adlan Al Mallah, for writing two articles on Algerie Directe, a website of which is the editor-in-chief. He was released on 22nd November, while his case was postponed to be considered on 7th February 2019.

Mallah published articles in which he criticized Abdul Qader Zokh, the governor of the Algerian capital. Mallah is accused of insulting and defamation.

On 20th November, Mallah went on a hunger strike, protesting his detention and his deteriorating health condition. Also for shock because his wife had a miscarriage.

Mallah case created a solidarity campaign led by human rights and press organizations to release him, more than 60 lawyers volunteered to defend him.

• Algerian security forces on 28th October, Abdo Samar, a journalist and editor of Algerie Parte, he is also a journalist in Marwan Bodiab website.

Bir Mourad Rayes Criminal Court accepted their appeal on 5th November and released them pending the consideration of the case.

Arresting the journalists took place on the background of a complaint filed by the governor of the city and director of Al Nahar complex. They were accused of insulting, breaching private life and publishing non-authenticated statements in articles tackled a complaint concerning real estate file in the capital, along with publishing official letters.

In November, journalist Shytour al-Haj Said was released after spending 16 months in jail, as Algerian authorities accused him of informing a non-competent person of information and designs.

Shytour works as a reporter for international websites and newspapers, like BBC, France 24 and Washington Post.

Bloggers, Students, and Politicians

• At the beginning of 2018, Algerian authorities released 4 of Socialist Front Party members on 18th January 2018. As the criminal court of Jendayi acquitted them.

Security forces arrested them in November 2016, after accusing them of using social media to incite hatred and violence, on the background of demonstrations in Mizab district, Jendayi governorate, demanding economic reform.

• • On 16th March 2018, security forces arrested dozens of students in National Institution For Mail, Media, and Telecommunication Technology, in the capital, after escalating demanding economic rights. They were released 48 hours later, while leaders of the strike were detained.

Students of the institution staged a strike demanding their rights at the beginning of December 2017. They had demands like, decreasing fees, finding a solution for the lack of specialization and to guarantee their rights after being insulted by officials in the institution.

• In June, Bejaya Court deceased the penalty against blogger Marzouk Towati, to be sentenced to 7 years instead of 10 years, under claims of espionage.

Towati published, on his blog, an interview with the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman. He was arrested in 2017, accused of “providing a foreign body with intelligence information to damage the military and diplomatic Algerian situation or its economic interests, and inciting to demonstrate.”

 

Banning demonstrations and collective forms of freedom of expression

• During the retrial of Marzouk Towati, security forces arrested 40 citizens who demonstrated in solidarity with Towati in front of the court. Some of them were released a few hours later, and others were released a few days later.

• On 8th September, security forces rejected the demand of “Mowatana” conglomerate to demonstrate in protest against the president’s declaration to run the presidential elections.

Moreover, a number of the movement members were arrested, among them: Zobaida Assoul, the conglomerate spokeswoman and head of Unity for Change Party, Ali ben Nawwari, head of Nedaa al Watan Party and Saleh Dabouz, head of Human Rights Association.

Security authorities decided to release them 48 hours later, after a statement released by parties participating in the conglomerate, denouncing their arrest and demanding their release.

On 12th October, new violations against “Mowatana” – which includes a number of political leaders, opposing, political and syndicate conglomerate – took place.

The movement decided to cancel its seminar which was supposed to be held on 13th October under the title of “Patriotic Seminar for Citizenship”. The cancellation took place after the abstention of the ministry of interior to confirm its approval for the request submitted by ‘New Generation’ party.

The movement, in a statement, said: “The opposition parties find itself under blockade and coercive residence, as the authorities ban parties activities through bureaucracy”.