The Algerian Ministry of Communication has decided to "
no longer authorize
" the private French television channel M6 to operate in Algeria, the day after the broadcast of a documentary on the popular protest movement "
Hirak
" in that country.
In a statement released Monday evening, the Ministry of Communication accuses this documentary - titled "
Algeria, the country of all revolts
" - of "taking
a biased view of the Hirak
" and of having been produced by an armed team. of a "
false shooting authorization
".
"
This precedent leads us to decide to no longer authorize M6 to operate in Algeria, in any form whatsoever,
" says the ministry.
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Presented as part of the “
Enquête Exclusive
” program, this 75-minute report - filmed at times with “
discreet cameras
” - exhibits testimonies from three young Algerians on the future of their country, in the grip of an unprecedented uprising since February 2019. The health crisis led to the suspension of the “
Hirak
”
marches
in mid-March.
The Ministry of Communication castigates "
insipid testimonies
", "
the most reducing clichés
" and "
a sum of shallow anecdotes
".
One of the protagonists of the investigation, Noor, a YouTuber known in Algeria, explained Monday on social networks that she regretted having participated in the documentary and deplored "
the lack of professionalism
" of the French channel.
According to the Algerian
press
release, “
a Franco-Algerian journalist ensured the production of the film, with the help of an“ Algerian fixer ”, provided with a false filming authorization
”, an offense “
moreover severely sanctioned
”.
The ministry promises to prosecute the authors of the report for "
forgery in authentic or public writing
".
It "
is not fortuitous that these media, equipped to carry out an agenda aimed at tarnishing the image of Algeria and at cracking the unwavering trust established between the Algerian people and its institutions, act in concert and at different levels and supports
», He believes.
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According to the ministry, M6 had submitted, on March 6, 2020, a request for press accreditation for the members of the team of the program “
Enquête Exclusive
”, with a view to filming a documentary on “
the enhancement of the 'economic and tourist development of the city of Oran, as well as the multiculturalism which makes the wealth of our country
”.
Request which received an unfavorable response from the services of the Ministries of Communication and Foreign Affairs, he said.
The broadcast last May by the public channel France 5 of another documentary on Algerian youth and the “
Hirak
” - “
Algeria my love
” by French journalist and director of Algerian origin Mustapha Kessous - had triggered a diplomatic crisis between Algiers and Paris.