Amnesty International has called on Algerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all arbitrarily detained journalists targeted for exercising their right to freedom of expression, including Abdelwakil Blamm, Hassan Bouras and Christophe Gleizes.
The call came ahead of the 14 May trial of Abdelwakil Blamm on bogus terrorism charges. The Rights Watchdog has also denounced the Algerian authorities’ misuse of the criminal justice system to punish independent critical media voices.
Since November 2025, the Algerian authorities have arbitrarily detained, prosecuted or convicted seven journalists and media workers solely based on their media work or for expressing their opinions. One was sentenced to prison; three were convicted and granted suspended sentences while three others remain in pretrial detention.
AI Deputy Regional Director for MENA has urged the Algerian authorities to stop misusing the justice system to punish journalists solely for carrying out their work or for expressing critical or controversial opinions.
The Algerian regime is resorting to overly broad and vague charges to silence dissent, said Amnesty International, calling on the authorities to stop using the criminal justice system as a tool to stifle the press.
The Algerian Journalists who criticize the Authorities risk arrest, prolonged arbitrary detention, prosecution on terrorism and national security charges and travel ban.
