Algeria. Journalist Khaled Drareni released from prison

” He is free “. Journalist Khaled Drareni was released on Friday evening the day after the announcement of a presidential pardon in favor of dozens of prisoners of conscience, announced Abdelaghani Badi, one of his lawyers, specifying that it was a measure of ” temporary freedom “. Khaled Drareni, correspondent in Algeria chain TV5 World and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), was sentenced in September 2020 to two years in prison for “Incitement to unarmed assembly” and “Attack on national unity”.

Founder of the electronic site Casbah Tribune, he had covered the popular protest movement Hirak, in particular via his accounts on social networks, before the suspension of the demonstrations because of the Covid-19 pandemic. His conviction sparked outrage in Algeria and abroad. Khaled Drareni is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on February 25 on his cassation appeal.

The opponent Rachid Nekkaz and the activist of Hirak Dalila Touat also released

In addition, the political opponent and businessman Rachid Nekkaz has also regained his freedom, according to the National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees (CNLD), an association supporting prisoners of conscience. Rachid Nekkaz, 47, incarcerated in El Bayadh prison (southwest), began a hunger strike on Friday to protest his prolonged detention, without trial, despite the deterioration of his state of health according to those around him.

The opponent has been detained since December 2019, but his trial has still not been scheduled. His requests for provisional release were rejected. He is prosecuted in particular for “Incitement to unarmed assembly” and “Publications which could undermine national unity”.

Among the detainees released Friday, there is also a Hirak activist, Dalila Touat, known as the spokesperson for the unemployed in Mostaganem (north-west). She had been imprisoned and on a hunger strike since January 3. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune made a gesture of appeasement on Thursday evening by pardoning dozens of Hirak detainees, ahead of the second anniversary of the popular Hirak uprising on February 22.

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