Rights group Amnesty International has urged Algeria to immediately release jailed journalist Ihsane El Kadi,

The prominent journalist is accused of illegally receiving money from people and organizations in exchange for carrying out activities that could harm state security.

Amnesty said the accusations against the journalist were trumped-up state security related offences and condemned what it called a ruthless campaign to silence critics.

Amnesty said El Kadi’s unjustified detention by the Algerian authorities is a grave injustice compounded by the violation of his fair trial rights.