Algeria Doubles Jail Term For Prominent Journalist

The jail sentence of a prominent independent journalist in Algeria has been substantially increased by an appeal court in Algiers.

Ihsane el-Kadi was sentenced to three years in jail with two years suspended earlier this year on charges of receiving foreign financing for the independent media group he owns.

His sentence has been raised to seven years – with five to be served in prison.

Kadi was arrested last year on Christmas Eve – an order was issued to close down his media company.

His lawyers denied the charges, saying that the only foreign transfer of money came from his daughter who’s a partner in the company and lives in the UK.

Source: BBC