Algerian Newspaper Deletes Article on First Algerian Killed Fighting for Assad, Attempts to Erase Online Evidence
The Algerian newspaper Echorouk has deleted a controversial 2016 article about the death of Hussein bin Issa, the first Algerian reported killed fighting for Bashar al-Assad in Syria. This deletion raises concerns about the Algerian government's influence on media and its official neutral stance in the Syrian conflict amidst reports of Algerian involvement.
hassan benyoub 
In what is being described as an ethical misstep, the Algerian newspaper Echorouk has deleted a 2016 article titled "First Algerian Killed Fighting in the Ranks of Bashar al-Assad's Forces".
The original article reported on the death of "Hussein bin Issa" in the battles of Daraya in the Damascus countryside. Sources told Echorouk that bin Issa was the first Algerian to be announced dead while fighting for the Syrian government.
However, Echorouk's attempt to erase the article has been thwarted by the internet archive, which retains a copy of the original piece. The deleted article can still be accessed via the Wayback Machine at this link: https://web.archive.org/…/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8….
This incident raises questions about potential motives behind the deletion, particularly regarding the Algerian government's stance on the Syrian conflict. While Algeria has officially maintained a neutral position on the Syrian conflict, this incident raises questions about potential pressure exerted on the media outlet to suppress information about Algerian involvement in the fighting. Some reports suggest that hundreds of Algerians have joined various sides of the Syrian conflict.
The newspaper Echorouk, also known as Echorouk El Youm, is a privately-owned Algerian daily newspaper. It is part of the Echorouk media group, which also includes a television channel, Echorouk TV.
