Former minister: We should consolidate the role of the media

The former culture and communication minister Abdelaziz Rehabi has rejected the idea of the elaboration of an information bill in Algeria while the citizen is still deprived from his constitutional right for free access to the news

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•     He has vehemently accused the authorities of clamping down on the sources of information considering the upcoming draft bill is designed for the private media.

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• In a declaration to “Echourouk”, M Rehabi went on saying “ In case of the elaboration of law to regulate the relationship between the journalist and the authorities as well as the reader, this one should be extended to other sectors of activities including lawyers, architects and footballers… The proliferation of special status proves that the state’s institutions have failed short and justice is weak”.

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• M Rehhabi considers the move irrelevant this time around because the satellite channels are manipulating the Arab general public. It would have been relevant to focus on the role and the influence of media domestically and abroad rather than preparing a draft law to intimidate the journalists, he said.

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• For his part the head of the High School of Journalism, Brahim Brahimi expressed his disappointment to the replacement of imprisonment by heavy fines in case infringement, noting that the move will compel the journalist to apply self- censorship.

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