Algerian journalist Rabah Karèche, imprisoned since mid-April, was sentenced Monday, October 11 to one year in prison, including six months closed for disseminating "
false news
", his lawyer told AFP.
“
We are shocked by this verdict.
He did not do anything.
He simply recounted the facts.
It is a decision which cannot be explained judicially
”, denounced to AFP Me Zoubida Assoul, evoking“
a decision more political than judicial
”.
Read also Algeria: 18 months in prison required on appeal against journalist Rabah Karèche
Rabah Karèche "
will be released in five days
", the date on which he will have served his entire sentence, taking into account his pre-trial detention for the duration of the trial, his lawyer said.
The journalist of the daily
Liberté
was indicted and imprisoned on April 19 after having published, in his newspaper and on his Facebook page, the report of a protest movement of the Tuaregs, a local Berber minority.
One case among others
Rabah Karèche was prosecuted in particular for "
deliberate dissemination of false information liable to attack public order
". He is also accused of "
creating an electronic account devoted to the dissemination of information likely to cause segregation and hatred in society
" and of having "
undermined security and national unity
". At first instance, the journalist was sentenced on August 12 to one year in prison, including eight months closed, by the Tamanrasset court.
Several Algerian journalists are currently in detention, including Mohamed Mouloudj, also of the daily
Liberté
, indicted and imprisoned in mid-September for "
belonging to a terrorist organization
" and "
disseminating false information
".
"
The decline in press freedom in my country is something that shocks and saddens me
", regretted Me Assoul.
Algeria occupies 146th place out of 180 countries in the world press freedom ranking of the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF).