Algeria justifies the expulsion of journalists by the hostility of the weekly Jeune Afrique – Telquel.ma

Farid Alilat is an Algerian citizen, but at the same time he is a journalist in an undesirable magazine, and when this media exploits his Algerian nationality and insidiously interferes in the performance of journalistic work, it is unacceptable.the Algerian minister said on Thursday.

Mr. Laagab assured that “Separating the two is difficult, but as an Algerian he is welcome. He is doing journalistic work for his media, which has decided to take positions hostile to Algeria and this is intolerable.”

Young Africa is regularly criticized by Algeria’s official media, which accuses the weekly, many of whose editions have been censored in recent years in the country, of being biased in favor of Morocco, Algeria’s regional rival.

“The issue does not concern him as an Algerian citizen, but the Jeune Afrique magazine where he works, which has taken hostile editorial positions towards Algeria. This media sometimes publishes incorrect and sometimes exaggerated information”said the minister.

In a publication published on Sunday evening on his Facebook page, Farid Alilat explained that he was held for eleven hours in the police premises at the airport in Algeria before being deported to France.

Farid Alilat, founded in 2004 in France where he has a residence permit, nevertheless regularly traveled to Algeria.

According to him, the police interrogated him especially about his letters, the editorial office of his newspaper, the purpose of his trip, and about Algeria’s opponents abroad and searched his two phones and computer.

The non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned, in a message on “expulsion without justification” and denounced “an unacceptable obstacle to press freedom”.