Algerian TV channel suspended for 10 days over racist slur against African migrants

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 4 May 2025 | AFP

Algerian authorities have suspended a TV channel for using a racist term against African migrants on social media. The suspension follows police raids leading to the detention of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.
Summary

ALGIERS – Algerian authorities on Friday suspended broadcasts by a television news channel for 10 days after it used a racist term on social media to describe African migrants.

Echorouk News TV used the derogatory word in a Facebook post following police raids that led to the detention of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

The ANIRA broadcasting authority condemned the post as "extremely serious," stating that it contained "a racist and discriminatory term, an attack on human dignity, conveying hate speech against a category of people because of their race."

ANIRA demanded that the channel’s management issue an official apology.

Tens of thousands of undocumented African migrants have used Algeria as a transit point to reach Europe, while many others have sought employment in the North African country.

Since the beginning of April, Algeria has deported approximately 5,000 Africans to neighboring Niger, with about half originating from Niger itself, according to state television reports.

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KEY POINTS:

Echorouk News TV suspended for 10 days for a racist social media post.
The post was condemned by ANIRA broadcasting authority.
Thousands of undocumented African migrants have been deported from Algeria.
Migrants often use Algeria as a transit point to Europe.
The incident highlights ongoing issues of racism and discrimination in the region.