News

Director-General condemns murder of Algerian journalist and his driver

Paris, 4 December - UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor today condemned the murder this weekend of a journalist and his driver in Algeria.

 

Algerian police discovered on Sunday the bodies of Hamid Mahiout, a reporter for the French-language daily Liberté, and his driver, Ahrned Benkherfallah, both abducted the day before in a suburb of Algiers, according to press reports.

 

“I was shocked to hear of this double murder directed once again at the media community in Algeria, particularly at a time when the country seems to be finally moving in the direction of dialogue and democracy,’ Mr Mayor said. “The victims contributed, each in his own way, to the free flow of information, a vital element for democracy. I offer my deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of these men and call once again for an end to violence in Algeria.”