Abrougui, Afef. “In Algeria, Two Imprisoned Bloggers Go on Hunger Strike.” Global Voices, 12 Oct. 2017, globalvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/5471251457_7e660a158b_o.jpg.
This article focuses on the extent of the state’s crackdown on free press and expression in Algeria, showcasing two bloggers who were both in a state of a hunger strike after being imprisoned for content shared on the internet. Blogger Merzoug Touati was imprisoned for conducting an interview with an Israeli official over political sentiments in Algeria in response to austerity measures. Blogger Slimane Bouhafs, a Christian convert and activist, was arrested for a series of Facebook posts denigrating Islam which included cartoons by French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo of the Prophet Muhammad (saws). This is part of a growingly inhospitable climate for the press in Algeria, especially for independent operations and individuals.
The article uses primary evidence including the blogs of the individuals in question, as well as previous reporting on this website on the issue of the Algerian press and statements by respected human rights organizations such as Amnesty and Reporters Without Borders in respect to these specific cases and the condition of freedom of the press in Algeria in general.
The article is critical of the Algerian state and its human rights record, and is written by a journalist who focuses on social media, privacy rights, and press freedom in the Middle East and North Africa.