Algeria: President pardons jailed media mogul, pro-democracy activists

Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has pardoned prominent media figure Ihsane El Kadi, freeing him from a seven-year prison sentence. The release coincided with the 70th anniversary of Algeria’s independence war against France, marking a significant gesture amid ongoing scrutiny of the nation’s press freedoms.

El Kadi, 65, head of Interface Medias, which oversees the Maghreb Emergent news site and Radio M, had been serving a seven-year term for “foreign financing of his business.” The charges stemmed from funds sent by his London-based daughter, who is also a shareholder in his media group, which El Kadi’s lawyers argued were used to pay off debts.

El Kadi’s lawyer Noureddine Ahmine expressed elation at his release, posting, “What joy! Ihsane El Kadi is free!” Another of his lawyers, Nabila Smail, echoed the sentiment: “At last Ihsane El Kadi is back home with his loved ones. Freed on November 1. The end of a nightmare.”

His arrest last year had ignited a wave of support among journalists and activists in both Algeria and Europe, including a petition by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) that amassed over 10,000 signatures. RSF welcomed his release with “immense relief” and expressed hope that it signals a loosening of restrictions on the Algerian press.

Algeria’s press climate has grown increasingly restrictive, with the country now ranking 139th out of 180 in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index, slipping three positions from the previous year. El Kadi’s case has been emblematic of the tightening environment, as he faced Algeria’s maximum penalty under a law targeting those who accept foreign funds with the potential to “undermine state security.”

President Tebboune also issued pardons for thousands of other detainees, including key figures from the Hirak pro-democracy movement, which erupted in 2019 and led to the ousting of long-time president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Among those freed was Mohamed Tadjadit, celebrated as the “poet of the Hirak” for his recitations and social media posts during the protests.

Since Tebboune’s election in late 2019, his administration has maintained a hard line on dissent, with increased policing and detentions. Amnesty International criticized the ongoing clampdown on expression and assembly, demanding the release of prisoners held for their activism.

The wave of pardons comes as Algeria marks the beginning of its fight for independence, a symbolic moment that could offer a glimpse of potential reform — or simply be a strategic reprieve amid mounting international pressure.