The European Parliament calls on the Algerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ihsane El-Kadi and all those arbitrarily detained and charged for exercising their right to freedom of expression
May 11, 2023
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure
on the media freedom and freedom of expression in Algeria, the case of journalist Ihsane El-Kadi
Pedro MARQUES, Matjaz NEMEC, Margarida MARQUES
on behalf of the S&D Group
European parliament resolution on the media freedom and freedom of expression in Algeria, the case of journalist Ihsane El-Kadi
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rules 144 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Ihsane El-Kadi, a prominent Algerian journalist and manager of Interface Médias, one of the last independent media enterprises in Algeria, with the online outlets Radio M and Maghreb Emergent, was arrested during the night of 23-24 December 2022 without a warrant;
B. whereas on 2 April 2023 an Algerian court convicted El Kadi to a five-year sentence, of which two suspended, the dissolution of his media company, the confiscation of its assets and a fine of 700 million Algerian dinars on unfounded charges related to receiving funds for “political propaganda” and “to harm the security of the state” under Articles 95 and 95 bis of Algeria's Penal Code; whereas the hearing of his appeal will take place in the second half of May 2023;
C. whereas since the Hirak protests of 2019 Algerian authorities have substantially clamped down on media freedom and freedom of expression; whereas Algeria ranks 136th out of 180 in the 2023 RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, while having ranked 146th in 2020; whereas since 2019, authorities have prosecuted and detained at least 11 other journalists and media workers, including Mustapha Bendjama and Abdou Semmar; whereas authorities increased blocking news sites and publications critical of the government.
1. Calls on the Algerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ihsane El-Kadi and all those arbitrarily detained and charged for exercising their right to freedom of expression;
2. Calls on the Algerian authorities to respect and uphold fundamental freedoms, notably media freedom, as embedded in article 54 of the Algerian Constitution, reopen shuttered media outlets and to put a stop to the arrest and detention of political activists, journalists, human rights defenders and trade unionists; expresses solidarity with Algerian citizens mobilizing peacefully since 2019;
3. Urges the authorities to amend security-related charges in the Penal Code used to criminalize the right to freedom of expression including Article 95 bis and Article 196 bis, and bring laws limiting freedom of expression into conformity with international human rights standards, notably the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Algeria has ratified;
4. Recalls, as jointly agreed in the EU-Algeria Partnership Priorities, the importance of a pluralist press to consolidate the rule of law and fundamental freedoms such as media freedom and freedom of expression;
5. Calls on all EU institutions and Member States to raise the case of Mr El-Kadi with Algerian authorities, and openly condemn the crackdown on media freedom; asks the EU institutions and EU Member States to urge Algerian authorities to guarantee visa and accreditation authorization to foreign journalists, without undue delay, and their freedom to operate;
6. Calls on the EU delegation and Member States embassies in Algeria to request access to imprisoned journalists and observe their trials;
7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, HRVP, the Member States, and Algeria and translate into Arabic;