Algeria denies press crackdown behind jailing

ALGIERS – Algeria yesterday denied trying to silence independent media with the jailing of a newspaper editor fiercely critical of the government, saying he had been imprisoned for financial wrongdoing.

Mohamed Benchicou, known as the administration’s public enemy number one in the press, was jailed for two years on Monday for the illegal transfer of money abroad. “This has nothing to do with the press, freedom of expression or politics,” justice minister Tayeb Belaiz told official radio in the first public reaction to the trial.”A citizen was stopped last August with (Algerian bank) cheques and was judged and jailed accordingly.Of course he has the right to appeal,” he said.Human rights groups, opposition parties and several dailies say the case brought by the finance ministry was an excuse to silence Benchicou and his national newspaper Le Matin as well as send a signal to others in the press.The north African country has one of the freest print media in the Arab world with more than 40 newspapers.- Nampa-Reuters”This has nothing to do with the press, freedom of expression or politics,” justice minister Tayeb Belaiz told official radio in the first public reaction to the trial.”A citizen was stopped last August with (Algerian bank) cheques and was judged and jailed accordingly.Of course he has the right to appeal,” he said.Human rights groups, opposition parties and several dailies say the case brought by the finance ministry was an excuse to silence Benchicou and his national newspaper Le Matin as well as send a signal to others in the press.The north African country has one of the freest print media in the Arab world with more than 40 newspapers.- Nampa-Reuters