Algerian journalist Ihsane El Kadi, a prominent voice during the country’s 2019 pro-democracy protests, has been pardoned and released from prison, The Associated Press reports.
El Kadi, who was imprisoned for receiving foreign funding and threatening state security, was among eight individuals released on Thursday evening.
The release coincided with the 70th anniversary of the start of Algeria’s revolution, a date often used by authorities to offer pardons.
El Kadi, a vocal critic of the Algerian government, was imprisoned for his role in Radio M and Maghreb Emergent, two media outlets that played a key role during the Hirak protests, which led to the resignation of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. He was accused of receiving foreign funding for these outlets and of threatening state security.
Fetta Saddat, one of El Kadi’s lawyers, confirmed his release, stating that he received a presidential pardon.
In total, 4,000 individuals were pardoned on Thursday based on clemency decrees signed by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. These pardons included those imprisoned for minor crimes as well as those charged with “undermining public order,” a charge frequently used against dissidents in Algeria.
The release of El Kadi and the other prisoners is seen as a significant step towards easing tensions in Algeria, which has been grappling with political unrest and a crackdown on dissent in recent years.
