An Algerian court this Monday sentenced French TV5 correspondent Khaled Drareni to three years in prison, TSA reports citing the defense lawyer. Drareni, 40, who is also correspondent of Reporters without Borders (RSF) in the North African country, has been in detention since March for covering “Hirak”, the popular demonstrations against the Algerian regime. Weekly “Hirak” demonstrations were banned in March after a state of emergency was decreed in connection with covid-19 pandemic. Another journalist, Moncef Aït Kaci, former France24 correspondent was rounded late last month. Kaci, according to several sources, is accused of “collaboration without license with a foreign television channel” and of receiving “external financing”.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 10, 2020 13:41 UTC