Government considers liftng crimanlization of press offences

Minister of Communication, Nacer Mhel, said on Thursday that the government will examine lifting criminalization on press offences, in accordance with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s decision to amend the press code.

• Mr Mhel told a press conference at the headquarters of state-run local El Moudjahed newspaper, that “the bill on the decriminalization of press offences will be presented next Monday to the Council of Ministers, on the eve of the celebration of World Press Freedom Day (May 3).”
  Minister of Communication further added that such a decision is “very important.”
  To recall, President Bouteflika announced in his speech to the nation in mid April, a bunch of political reforms, including the establishment of a new press code, which will instate an ethic agenda that would complete the existing legislation, through the decriminalization of press offences. 
  Minister of Communication specified that “press offenses will be always subject to fine sanctions.”