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Previous Action Alerts 11/2/06 - Algeria
November 02, 2006
Algeria: Two journalists sentenced for libel against Libyan president.
Algerian journalists Ali Fadil and Naila Berrahal have been sentenced to six months in prison and a 20,000 dinar fine for articles implying Libyan president al-Qadhafi met with Tuareg tribal leaders discussing setting up an independent state.
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Full Story from International PEN:
Algeria: Two journalists sentenced for “libelling” Libyan president.
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is deeply depressed by the 31 October 2006 sentencing of journalists Ali Fadil and Naila Berrahal for allegedly libelling Libyan president Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi.
Fadil and Berrahal, editor and reporter respectively for the daily Ech-Chourouk, were each handed a six-month prison sentence and a fine of 20,000 dinars (c. US$270). They were found guilty of “libel” in the wake of two Ech-Chourouk articles earlier in the year that implied that President al-Qadhafi had been involved in discussions with Tuareg tribal leaders keen to set up an independent state. Representatives of the Libyan president initiated the legal action against the two journalists.
The sentence has been appealed by the defendants’ lawyer, Khaled Bergheul, and thus has been suspended until a ruling on the appeal has been given.
Ech-Chorouk was also suspended for two months and the owners ordered to pay the Libyan president 500,000 dinars (c. US$6,750).
International PEN considers that the sentence handed to Ali Fadil and Naila Berrahal is absurd and disproportionate, and calls for the quashing of the criminal libel charge against the two journalists when their appeal is heard. PEN also urges the Algerian authorities to decriminalise offences such as libel so that similar cases might not arise in future.
Please send appeals:
- Calling for the quashing of the criminal libel charge against the two journalists when their appeal is heard.
- Urging the Algerian authorities to decriminalise offences such as libel so that similar cases might be avoided in future.
Appeals to:
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Algiers
Algeria
Fax: +213 21 686480
E-mail: president@el-mouradia.dz
M. Tayeb Belaiz
Minister of State for Justice and Keeper of the Seals
Ministry of Justice
8 Place Bir Hakem
16030 El Biar
Algiers
Algeria
Fax: +213 21 921701
E-mail: belaiztayeb@mjustice.dz
(sample)
Your Excellencies:
I’m writing as a member of PEN USA, a writers’ organization with an 85-year history of defending human rights through the written word.
I am seriously concerned about the recent sentences handed down to my colleagues, journalists Ali Fadil and Naila Berrahal, for allegedly libeling Libyan president Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi.
Fadil and Berrahal, editor and reporter for the daily Ech-Chourourk, were found guilty of libel following two articles earlier in the year that implied President al-Qadhafi had been involved in discussions with Tuareg tribal leaders interested in setting up an independent state. They have been sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of 20,000 dinars. Also, Ech-Chourouk was suspended for two months and ordered to pay the Libyan president 500,000 dinars. We understand that the sentence has been suspended following an appeal by the defendants’ lawyer.
I believe these sentences are unjust and disproportionate and I sincerely hope the libel charge will be overturned at appeal. Further, I hope that the Algerian authorities will decriminalize offenses such as libel to respect the rights of writers and reporters in the future.
Respectfully,