US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS1003

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, AG, Press Freedom 
SUBJECT: MORE ALGERIAN JOURNALISTS SENTENCED TO PRISON 
 
REF: ALGIERS 918 
 
1.  Fouad Boughanem and Reda Belhadjouja have been found 
guilty of defamation for an article that appeared in 2003 in 
Le Soir d'Algerie.  Each was sentenced to two months in jail 
and 250,000DA fine (US$3,427).  In addition, the newspaper 
has been fined 250,000DA (US$3,427).  Boughamen is the 
publication director for Le Soir d'Algerie, and Belhadjouja 
is the author of the article which was written under the pen 
name of Hakim Laalam.  Neither man is in prison pending 
appeal.  The article contained a satirical criticism of 
President Bouteflika and the justices who invalidated the 
eighth FLN party congress.  It is written in a very 
non-professional journalistic manner. 
 
2.  At one time Belhadjouja also had a radio show in Algeria 
on Channel 3.  He was subsequently fired from his radio job 
because of similar articles written for Le Soir d'Algerie, 
even though they were written under a pen name.  According to 
Belhadjouja, the prosecutor had recommended the maximum 
sentence of ten years' imprisonment, particularly because of 
the flippant and insulting tone of the article. 
 
3. The new sentences, if implemented, will bring to eight the 
number of Algerian journalists who are sentenced to prison or 
currently in prison.  Four other journalists have also been 
sentenced to imprisonment and are awaiting appeal (reftel). 
 
 
ERDMAN