ALGIERS, Algeria — In a significant development for press freedom and civil liberties in the country, Algeria has granted clemency to a prominent journalist who played a pivotal role during the pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019. Ihsane El Kadi, who had been incarcerated for allegedly accepting foreign funds for his media entities and posing a threat to state security, was released from prison on Thursday evening. Alongside him, eight other individuals who faced imprisonment for their criticisms of the government were also set free.

El Kadi’s release came on a momentous occasion, aligning with the 70th anniversary of Algeria’s revolution—a significant date that the authorities have traditionally employed to announce various pardons. His attorney, Fetta Saddat, confirmed that El Kadi was able to walk free from El Harrah prison following a presidential pardon. Previously, he had been serving a sentence for receiving foreign financing for his projects, Radio M and Maghreb Emergent, both of which served as vital platforms during the Hirak protests, instrumental in the ousting of long-time president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019.

The release of El Kadi was part of a broader wave of clemency enacted by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, with an official announcement stating that approximately 4,000 individuals were released on the same day. This mass pardon included those sentenced for lesser crimes, in addition to individuals charged with “undermining public order.” Historically, this latter charge has been frequently employed by the Algerian authorities to suppress dissenting voices and political opposition.