The public prosecutor at the Sidi M’hamed court called for five years’ imprisonment, a fine of 700,000 dinars and a five-year ban on working as a journalist against the Algerian journalist Ihsane El Kadi. This was at the end of a trial on Sunday 26 March where the person concerned himself decided to remain silent. The final verdict is expected on Sunday 2 April.
Arrested on 24 and detained on 29 December 2022, the founder of Interface Media faces up to five years in prison. During the trial, which opened on Sunday in the presence of Ihsane El Kadi himself and his lawyers, the prosecutor’s office also demanded the “confiscation of the journalist’s property and funds”, as well as “five years of deprivation of any public function in relation to the grounds for the legal proceedings” and a fine of 700,000 dinars.
In addition, a fine of 10 million dinars was imposed on the company of journalist Ihsane El Kadi, “Interface Medias”, which publishes the news websites “Radio M” and “Maghreb Emergent”. This was done with the confiscation of the means and facilities used to operate the Web Radio’s audiovisual service.
Known for his critical stance towards the government in Algiers, Ihsane El Kadi was frequently subjected to pressure and intimidation by the authorities. For about three years, Ihsane El Kadi has been under frequent pressure and intimidation from the authorities. Arrested on the night of December 24, 2022, he is being prosecuted on four counts, namely “receiving funds from abroad for the purpose of political propaganda”, “receiving funds from abroad to commit acts against state security and national unity”, “publishing tracts of prejudicial nature to the national interest” and “collecting funds without authorisation”.
In a statement issued on March 9, his lawyers denounced several violations of the law in this case, from the arrest of the journalist, his detention in police custody and his placement in pre-trial detention, to the sealing of the premises of Interface Media, without any judicial decision in accordance with the constitution and the information code.
