First prison sentence for a cartoonist since penal code was amended

Reporters Without Borders today protested against the suspended sentenced of six months in prison passed on 20 May by an Algiers court on Ali Dilem, a cartoonist with the daily Liberté, for a cartoon of army chief of staff Gen. Mohamed Lamari published on 15 January 2002. The court also fined Dilem 20,000 dinars (about 240 euros), and imposed fines of 40,000 dinars (about 480 euros) on Liberté editor Abrous Outoudert and 300,000 dinars (about 3,600 euros) on the newspaper itself. "This is the first prison sentence ever passed on a cartoonist, and it has been imposed as a result of the May 2001 amendment of the criminal code, which was dubbed the 'Dilem amendment'," Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard said. "It clearly shows the authorities want to intimidate journalists who display any kind of impertinence, and it poses a threat to the freedom of expression which quite a few Algerian publications have adopted," Ménard added On 31 December 2002, Dilem was sentenced by an Algiers court to a fine of 20,000 dinars (about 240 euros) for a cartoon of the assassination of President Boudiaf, which had appeared on 16 January 2002. The newspaper was fined 10,000 dinars (about 120 euros). As a result of another defence ministry complaint, Dilem is also awaiting prosecution for a cartoon on a telethon that appeared on 29 November 2001. Article 144b of the criminal code establishes prison terms of two to 12 months and heavy fines for any "attack on the president of the republic involving abuse, insult or defamation." The same penalties apply when the offences are committed against "the parliament or either of its two chambers or the ANP (the army)."