A court in southern Algeria has sentenced a university student to 18 months in prison for publishing videos and posts on social media that were considered offensive to the head of state and security forces.
Journalists in Biskra said Mohamed Amine Benalia’s family members were shocked by the verdict, which they considered harsh, noting that his posts date back to the presidential elections in December.
At the time, Benalia criticized former presidential candidate, Abdelmajid Taboun, who was later elected as the country's president. He said Taboun was “the candidate of an illegitimate regime that is rejected at the popular level."
The student also posted videos on his Facebook page showing acts of violence by riot police against protesters in Oran port city in northwest Algeria. The videos went viral.
The prosecution considered his posts “an insult to a regular body,” and the Directorate-General for National Security condemned the publication of media, without denying their authenticity.
In other news, the prosecution in Annaba court, eastern Algeria, has demanded a six-month prison sentence against Mustapha Bendjama, a journalist and activist in the local popular movement.
Bendjama was wanted since November for “inciting an unarmed gathering, participating in an unarmed gathering, and preventing a candidate from organizing a rally for his election campaign.”
The three charges are linked to former presidential candidate Ali Benflis, who was in Annaba back then for his presidential campaign. Activists stormed the streets against him, including Bendjama, who for his part, told police that the demonstrations were peaceful.
The judge has referred the case to the deliberation phase and said the verdict would be issued on February 2.
Bendjama is currently prohibited from traveling under a decision issued by the examining magistrate.
Meanwhile, in Sidi M'hamed Court in Algiers, the prosecutor demanded Sunday a six-month prison sentence against Head of the country’s National Association Against Corruption Mustafa Atoui.
He was arrested on Friday during the weekly demonstrations against authority. He is facing charges related to his activities and statements against senior officials.
The judge will announce the verdict on February 2, provided that Atoui remains in pre-trial detention, while Bendjama remains in a state of temporary release.
Dozens of demonstrators are put in jails all over Algeria over the same charges, including several female activists in civil society organizations and university students.
