As Algerian MPs debate new media law, journalists gather outside the parliament to express discontent over the draft law.

Dozens of journalists gathered outside the building of the Algerian parliament in Algiers to protest against a draft media law presented by Algerian Communication Minister Nacer Mehal to MPs for discussion and sign-off. Hakim Messaoui, member of an Algerian journalists’ syndicate said ‘’What we want is a law on news and not a penal code.”

But there was a wide opposition to the draft law inside the parliament as well. Algerian members of parliament actually widely criticised a the new media law aimed at regulating the sector, arguing that it was more of a penal code than a press code.

“This is a net step backwards and a freeze in the sector of the media, a law going against international standards” said Mohamed Mahmoudi MP of the Movement of Society for Peace, a party belonging to the coalition backing President Bouteflika reforms.

Presenting the bill, Communications Minister Nacer Mehal said that the aim was ” To protect better journalists on the socio-professional level.” “The government is engaged to respect all freedoms and above all the freedom of expression in the framework part of the laws of the  republic,”  said Mehal at a plenary session of the Algerian People’s National Assembly.

The new bill includes 132 articles. A long part of it is devoted to opening the TV sector to the private sector.

The discontent among professionals of the media in Algeria arises from proposals contained in the presented draft media law calling for a series of red lines imposed on the profession including the respect for national sovereignty as well as country economic interests. ‘’These expressions are so unclear that they could be used against the freedom of informing and thus would penalize journalists and users of the media including the Algerian people’’ said MP Ali Brahimi.

Five TV channels and five national radio channels in addition to 47 provincial radio stations broadcast around the hour programs. All TV and radio challes are owned by the state and no private enterprise has been allowed in this sense so far in the country.

Said Bouhadja, a member of parliament for the National Liberation Front (FLN), backed the new bill, telling AFP that “this proposal places Algeria in a modern position and is an opening up” of the broadcast business.

The media bill is among reforms promised by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on April 15, in response to a wave of popular protest that was part of the Arab Spring. The law should be voted on by the end of January, which will mark the end of this parliamentary session, the last before elections in 2012.