Algerian regime can’t handle sex scenes, tv director jailed
It’s not only journalists who are routinely being rounded up in Algeria by President Saied’s henchmen. Now it’s tv networks that are also being hit by the authoritarian regime but this time for something which would raise the eyebrows of many Algerians. Sex scenes.
The Algerian judiciary ruled to permanently shut down a private television channel and sentenced the channel director to three years in prison on charges of broadcasting a sexually explicit scene last November, reports Middle East Monitor and New Arab.
The Algerian newspaper Ennahar reported that the misdemeanour court in the Algerian city of Sidi M’hamed issued a three-year prison sentence against the director of Al-Ajwaa TV channel, Zubiri Boushaqour, after broadcasting “offensive” content.
The same court also issued a one-year prison sentence for the channel’s editor-in-chief and one of the channel’s female journalists involved in the case.
READ: Algeria: 4 journalists arrested in continuation of crackdown on dissent
The Audiovisual Regulatory Authority (ARAV) decided to shut down the channel permanently following the incident that agitated public opinion in the country.
The government body explained that its decision came after the channel broadcasted scenes that were: “Offensive and contrary to the values of our society and our religion.”
The channel’s management expressed regret and apologised to the Algerian people for the “terrible mistake”.
The channel apologised on Facebook for what it called “a terrible mistake” and bid “farewell” to its viewers.
ARAV last year temporarily shut down the private El Hayet TV after a controversy over Algerian resistance hero Emir Abdelkader.
The Algerian state had a monopoly on broadcasting for five decades following independence from France in 1962.
Since the law was changed in 2012, more than 50 private television channels have been created, but only six of them have received temporary approval to open studios in Algeria.
New Arab/Middle East Monitor/agencies
