Algerian government pardons prominent journalist Ihsane El Kadi, imprisoned for role in 2019 pro-democracy protests, as gesture of reconciliation.
In a move seen as a gesture of reconciliation, the Algerian government has pardoned Ihsane El Kadi, a prominent journalist who was imprisoned for his role in the country’s pro-democracy protests in 2019.
El Kadi, who emerged as a key voice during the Hirak protests that led to the resignation of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, was released from prison on Thursday evening, along with eight other individuals who had been imprisoned for criticizing the state.
The release of these prisoners coincided with the 70th anniversary of the start of Algeria’s revolution, a date that authorities have often used as an occasion to offer pardons.
Fetta Saddat, one of El Kadi’s lawyers, confirmed that he had received a presidential pardon and was freed from El Harrah prison.
El Kadi had been serving a sentence for receiving foreign financing for his media outlets, Radio M and Maghreb Emergent, which played a crucial role in amplifying the voices of the Hirak protesters.
The move to pardon El-Kadi and others is seen as an attempt by the Algerian government to address the concerns of its citizens and bridge the divide that emerged during the 2019 protests.
The Hirak movement, which called for sweeping political and economic reforms, was a significant challenge to the country’s entrenched power structures.
By releasing these prisoners, the government appears to be signaling a willingness to engage with dissenting voices and work towards reconciliation.
However, the long-term impact of this gesture remains to be seen, as the underlying issues that sparked the Hirak protests continue to loom large in Algerian society.
