Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in the Conflict Situation in Algeria

Abstract

Ahmed Ancer was born in Jijel, Algeria and started his career as a journalist with the Algerian governmental newspaper, El Moudjahid in 1981 after he studied political science at the University of Algiers. During his career at El Moudjahid, Mr Ancer was prohibited from writing, more than once, by the Algerian government. In 1988, together with other Algerian journalists, he started the MJA (Mouvement des Journalistes Algérien, later changed into AJA, Association des Journalistes Algériens). This Movement originated continuous protests for more than two years against the government. In a political climate where there was no room for democracy, the MJA was the cause of much turmoil by publishing critical articles about issues as Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Press. In 1990, together with other journalists, he founded the first independent and privately funded newspaper in Algeria, El Watan. Ancer is still working for El Watan as a political commentator and as head of the editorial staff for Algerian national news. Over the past few years almost 60 Algerian journalists have been killed. Having been the target of many attacks by Islamist fundamentalists himself, he has been forced to move his family to a safe zone for journalists, 25 kilometres outside of Algiers. Amsterdam is Mr Ancer's temporary residence. His presence in the Netherlands is a result of an initiative by the International Parliament of Writers (Salmon Rushdie, Chair) to establish "cities of refuge". These cities would provide a temporary home for writers, journalists and others who would live or work under pressure in their countries of origin. Amsterdam decided to announce itself as one of those "safe cities" and hence Mr Ancer was invited in September 1997 to come to live one year in Amsterdam by the Dutch Rushdie Defense Committee, with the support of the City of Amsterdam.