The Algerian police arrested, Wednesday, journalist and press freedom advocate Mustapha Bendjama at his workplace, according to local news reports.
In response to that, US Committee To Protect Journalists issued a strongly-worded statement in which it demanded that the Algerian reporter be set free immediately.
CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour stated that authorities must release Bendjama without condition and ensure that journalists can work freely and without fear of imprisonment.
Bendjama is the editor-in-chief of local independent news website “Le Provincial”. On Wednesday, the police raided the office hosting the news outlet, located in Annaba (northeast Algeria), and confiscated the journalist’s phone and computer.
The Algerian authorities are suspecting Bendjama has some connections with Amira Bouraoui who recently fled to France.