Algerian court sentences digital creators to seven years over flag defacement

An Algerian court has sentenced two digital marketing organisers to seven years in prison for defacing the national flag. The ruling by the Bir Mourad Raïs tribunal in Algiers follows an incident at a digital marketing event, according to a report by Courrier International released on June 10th.

The court also ordered the defendants to pay a fine of 500,000 dinars, which is equivalent to approximately 3,200 euros. The events took place on June 5th at the Legacy Luxury Hotel. The venue is located in the capital city of Algiers. The organisers had arranged an annual social gathering linked to the Chinese video platform TikTok. During this event, they placed a large Algerian flag on the floor of the main hotel lobby.

The prosecution accused the organisers of deliberately allowing participants to walk across the national emblem. The judicial system treated this act with high severity due to the sacred status given to the national flag in Algerian law. One of the convicted individuals is Abderrahmane Jamer. He is a prominent Algerian social media influencer. He also serves as the director of the communications agency that was hired to run the event. The second convicted individual is Ablila El Mehdi Sami. He is the person who allegedly placed the flag on the floor of the lobby.

The trial moved forward rapidly following widespread public attention. Video footage of participants walking over the flag circulated widely on social media networks and caused a significant scandal across the country. Local journalists, civic organisations, and private citizens called on authorities to react quickly to determine legal responsibility.

The court applied Article 160 bis of the Algerian Penal Code to the case. This specific statute mandates prison terms of five to ten years for anyone who publicly tears, mutilates, or defaces the national emblem. The tribunal rejected arguments from the defence team regarding the accidental nature of the setup. Instead, the court focused entirely on the public and visible setting of the act. Local analysts noted that the speed of the proceedings highlights how seriously the state handles cases involving national symbols.

Courrier International, El Watan, Demócrata, Maghrebi.org