The European Parliament (EP) adopted an emergency resolution on May 11, 2023, with a very large majority (536 votes in favor, 4 against, and 18 abstentions), expressing concern about the significant decline in press freedom in Algeria since the Hirak protests in 2019 and the harassment of journalists. The resolution addressed the case of journalist Ihsane El-Kadi.
With its resolution, the European Parliament calls on the Algerian government to release without delay those individuals who have been unjustly jailed and accused of exercising their right to free speech, including well-known journalist Ihsane El-Kadi.
A well-known Algerian journalist named Ihsane El-Kadi was detained. He is the manager of "Interface Médias," one of the country's last remaining independent media companies, which includes the websites Radio M and Maghreb Emergent on the night of December 23–24, 2022, without a warrant.
El-Kadi was found guilty on false charges of "receiving funds for political propaganda" and "harming the security of the state" on April 2, 2023, and was sentenced to five years in prison, of which two were suspended, a fine of 700 million Algerian dinars, the dissolution of his media company, and the confiscation of its assets.
The resolution requests that the Algerian government alter security-related offenses that are used to make exercising one's right to free speech illegal under the country's penal code. It states that after the so-called Hirak demonstrations in 2019, Algeria's media landscape has significantly deteriorated, with the government censoring more critical news sources and publications.
The European Parliament demands that the institutions of the EU and its members bring up El-Kadi's situation with Algerian authorities and publicly denounce the government's attack on press freedom.
The EU delegation and EU nations' embassies on the ground are urged to ask for access to journalists who have been detained so they may cover their trials, and the EU Parliament calls on all EU institutions and member states to publicly denounce the attack on media freedom in Algeria.
Finally, MEPs urge the Algerian government to ensure international journalists' access to visas, accreditation, and freedom of expression.
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