2024-05-14 03:17:01
In correspondence addressed to the Algerian authorities, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the fight against terrorism drew attention to the trial of journalist Ihsane El Kadi, director of the Algerian station Radio M and the Algeria shifts into a brand new period (Le Monde)”>Maghreb Emergent news site.
They expressed concern about the violation of fair trial standards during Mr. El Kadi’s arrest and detention, including his right of access to a lawyer and his right to be informed of the charges against him. him and the reasons for his arrest.
“We are also concerned by the ambiguous legal basis of the accusations against Mr. El Kadi and the police search against the two independent media outlets, and by the fact that the legal action appears to be linked to their journalistic activities,” they added. the rapporteurs.
UN experts also said they were “alarmed” by the de facto silencing of a critical journalist and by the search of two independent media outlets which have a negative impact on press freedom in Algeria.
“We are deeply concerned about the misuse of security measures in what appear to be disproportionate and unnecessary means, primarily to prevent expression through the media and thus limit society’s broader participation in political affairs,” they said. -they emphasized.
Additionally, the rapporteurs expressed particular concern regarding “the broader significance and negative implications of the situation of Mr. El Kadi, Radio M and Maghreb Émergent for freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Algeria”, deploring among other things the “dissuasive effect” that they can constitute for individuals, including journalists, media workers and human rights defenders, who wish to express themselves, demonstrate peacefully and participate in public and political life in Algeria.
The correspondence therefore urges the Algerian authorities to provide information on the legal and factual grounds for the arrest, detention and charges against Mr. El Kadi, and to explain how these comply with their obligations in under international human rights law.
The rapporteurs also called on Algiers to provide information on the legal and factual grounds for the search of the two media outlets Radio M and Maghreb Émergent and to explain what measures have been taken to guarantee the possibility for journalists and media workers in Algeria to exercise their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and to freely engage in journalistic work “without fear of reprisal, legal action or criminalization of any kind”.
2024-05-14 03:17:01