Event Summary
On 27 November 2025, veteran Algerian journalist and writer Saâd Bouakba was placed in pre-trial detention by the Bir Mourad Raïs court in Algiers. The case stems from a complaint filed by Mahdia Ben Bella, daughter of Algeria’s first president, accusing Bouakba of “attacking the memory of her father and the historical symbols of the Algerian state.” The allegations relate to a program aired on Vision TV News’ YouTube channel titled “This is how the leaders of the revolution divided the funds of the FLN: shocking historical revelations,” in which Bouakba claimed that revolutionary leaders misappropriated FLN funds for personal use. Prosecutors charged Bouakba and the channel’s owner under articles 148 bis 1, 333 bis 6 and 196 bis of the Penal Code covering insult, defamation via ICT, and dissemination of false news. The case has been referred for immediate appearance, with a hearing scheduled for 4 December 2025.
This arrest is viewed as part of a growing trend of judicial harassment against independent voices. Prosecuting historical commentary under defamation laws undermines freedom of expression and investigative journalism. This incident further erodes the enabling environment for civil society in Algeria, fostering self-censorship and discouraging public debate on governance and historical accountability. Such measures contravene Algeria’s obligations under international law, including Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to freedom of expression, and the UN Human Rights Committee’s General Comment No. 34, which emphasizes that restrictions on speech must be necessary, proportionate, and not used to stifle criticism of public figures or historical debate.