✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Abdelkader Bengrina Reaffirms El Bina’s Commitment to Ethical, Sovereign Journalism and Defends Algeria’s Media Against Foreign Pressure and Digital Manipulation
Algiers, Algeria | May 3rd, 2025 — In a statement marking World Press Freedom Day, the President of El Bina El Watani Movement, Abdelkader Bengrina, issued a tribute to Algeria’s free press while denouncing the global trend of weaponizing journalism to distort truth and manipulate sovereign nations.
Opening with a solemn invocation, Bengrina saluted the “free and honorable journalists in Algeria and beyond” who continue to resist propaganda, disinformation, and intimidation. He described journalism as “a sacred right and a powerful weapon in the hands of the people to uphold justice, liberty, and dignity.”
“Freedom is assassinated daily, just as the rights of peoples are violated and innocent cities are bombarded by war criminals and architects of terrorism and hate,” Bengrina declared, condemning the selective silence of international platforms that ignore atrocities—particularly those committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian civilians and journalists.
El Bina’s message framed May 3rd not just as a commemorative occasion but as a moral and national checkpoint, reminding all parties—journalists, institutions, and governments—of their duty to defend truth, integrity, and the sovereign right to independent journalism.
Media Reform in Algeria: Praiseworthy Yet Fragile
In a notable departure from mere rhetoric, Bengrina praised Algeria’s national efforts to build a dynamic, pluralistic media landscape. He highlighted the proliferation of public and private media institutions, the expansion of opportunities for young journalists, and the increasing openness of public authorities to engage with the press.
However, he also issued a call for deeper support: urging the government to empower national media with access to accurate information, fair advertising distribution, professional training, and financial relief for struggling outlets—so they may fulfill their pivotal role in defending Algeria’s media sovereignty.
Defending Algeria’s Image and Truth
In light of Algeria’s growing regional influence and principled positions, Bengrina warned of organized campaigns to tarnish the country’s image through foreign-funded digital propaganda and biased international media outlets masquerading as advocates of rights and freedoms.
“We call for national media solidarity and the activation of citizen journalism to expose the digital mercenaries who aim to fracture Algeria’s social fabric,” he asserted.
A Strategic National Media Vision
Bengrina reiterated El Bina’s unwavering support for developing a comprehensive national media strategy rooted in legislative protection, ethical codes, and professional empowerment. He called for a unified journalists’ syndicate, strong enough to guarantee rights and enforce duties, shield journalists from coercion or exploitation, and anchor them in loyalty to the nation and service to the public.
“A journalist’s only allegiance must be to the homeland—not to propaganda, corruption, or foreign agendas,” he stressed. “We salute every journalist who resisted the lure of money and stood firm in the face of threats.”
El Bina’s position is clear: freedom of the press must be defended, but not hijacked. It must be used to serve the people, not manipulate them. Bengrina’s speech elevates Algeria’s national media discourse and sends a stern message to all those seeking to exploit journalism as a tool of foreign influence or internal division.
A Call to Resistance, A Salute to Truth
“We salute every hand that held a camera to resist, not to deceive. Every pen that remained true. Every Algerian who refused to sell their conscience,” Bengrina concluded. “Long live Algeria—fortified against distortion, invincible in the face of deception, and victorious through the strength of its message and its children.”
