Mohammed Benchicou is the former director of Le Matin, a private daily newspaper that maintained an independent, critical editorial line toward the Algerian government.

On August 23, 2003, Benchicou was apprehended by the police at Algiers airport on his return from France and charged with currency control violations in a move widely understood to be an attempt to silence Le Matin in the run-up to the 204 Algerian presidential election.

Benchicou’s arrest was reportedly ordered by the Algerian Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni, who Le Matin had accused in a 2003 article of involvement in torturing prisoners in the 1970s during his service as a military security commander. At a press conference in Djelfa in 2003, Zerhouni stated that Benchicou would “pay” for the accusation. Benchicou further angered officials in early 2004 when he published a satirical book about the Algerian president entitled Bouteflika, An Algerian Fraud. Benchicou is reportedly the first person ever to be imprisoned in Algeria for bringing money into the country in any form.

On June 14, 2004, Benchicou was sentenced to a two-year prison term and received a fine of 20m dinars (approx. US$280,000). The sentence was upheld on appeal on August 11, 2004, and Le Matin was closed down that same month. On April 20, 2005, Benchicou’s prison sentence was increased by five months as a result of two separate libel charges in connection with the publication of two articles in Le Matin. Benchicou has approximately 50 other cases pending against him and is reportedly taken to court once or twice a week for press charges dating back to 2002.

Conditions are harsh in El-Harrach Prison where Benchicou was detained, with 50 prisoners to a cell and infestations of lice and cockroaches. Visiting is extremely restricted--Benchicou was only able to see family members for 10 minutes per week. Benchicou’s wife reported that his health deteriorated as a result of his imprisonment and he is now seriously ill. He is suffering from arthritis and can no longer write with his right hand due to paralysis on the right side of his body. Despite numerous requests for necessary medical attention, Benchicou did not receive medical care at any time during his imprisonment.

Mohammed Benchicou was released from prison on June 14, 2006, upon the completion of his sentence. Although he has now been freed, Mr. Benchicou reportedly has more than 50 additional cases pending against him in connection with Le Matin’s aggressive reporting. Furthermore, PEN is concerned that his passport has been reportedly denied him, thus preventing him from traveling freely.

It is imperative for Mr. Benchicou to travel outside of Algeria to receive medical treatment.



Please write a polite letter on your personal or institutional letterhead expressing your concern about the continued denial of Benchicou's passport—or copy the one below—and fax it to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Algiers
Algeria
Fax: +213 21 686480

Your Excellency,

As one of the 3,300 writers who are members of PEN American Center, I am writing to express my deep concern over the continued denial of Mohammed Benchicou’s passport.

As you know, Mr. Benchicou was the recipient of one of two 2006 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Awards. He was the editor of daily publication Le Matin when he was sentenced to two years in prison for an alleged “violation of foreign exchange controls.” He served the entire sentence in El-Harrach prison and according to several sources, he became quite ill during this time. Despite requests made by the prison doctor, his wife, and his lawyer that Mr. Benchicou be hospitalized, he received little or no medical treatment.

I understand that Mr. Benchicou’s health has worsened considerably due to the conditions of his imprisonment; PEN has received reports that he now suffers from a more serious ailment than the original diagnosis of acute cervical arthritis. Doctors have attributed the paralysis in his right leg and arm to a neurological illness resulting from vascular complications.

I am concerned that the withholding of Mr. Benchicou’s passport is yet another of form of punishment for exercising his right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Algeria is a signatory. I therefore respectfully ask that you reconsider his case and, in a spirit of humanity, restore his passport so that he may travel to receive the medical treatment he so desperately needs.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Your name and signature]

Cc: H.E. Amine Kherbi
Embassy of The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to the U.S.
2118 Kalorama Rd N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008
Fax: (202) 667-2174
E-mail: ambassadoroffice@yahoo.com

H. E. Youcef Yousfi
Permanent Mission of Algeria to the United Nations
326 E. 48th St
New York, NY 10017-1747
Fax: (212) 759-5274
E-mail: mission@algeria-un.org

M. Tayeb Belaiz
Minister of Justice
8 Place Bir Hakem
16030 El Biar
Algiers, Algeria
Fax: 213 21 921701
 
M. Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni
Interior Minister
Fax: 213 21 60 52 10 

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