(Ecofin Agency) - The TV channel El Watan TV could face some problems in Algeria. The news website Tout sur l’Algérie reveals that the director of this private media, Djaafar Chali, was summoned at the Ministry of Communication. The channel is accused of “promoting violence”, the news website reports, citing sources in the ministry led by Hamid Grine.

Indeed, El Watan TV is reproached with broadcasting an interview of Madani Mezrag (photo), the ex-leader of the Islamic Salvation Armed (ISA), the military branch of the Islamic Salvation Front (ISF), party which until 2000, was still seeking power in Algeria. On air this 3^rd October 2015, Madani Mezrag reacted to the ban which prevents him from creating a political party, with respect to the bill on Civil Accord and the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation.

Madani Mezrag warned the president of the republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika: “The President is in a state which does not allow him to make decisions. He had already made mistakes about us in 2009 during a speech in Oran. Our response was strong and today, the President is making the same mistake. Whatever the party or adviser behind this, he is forcing us to retaliate with violence. We will remind him of our response in 2009, and if he does not change his position, he will hear from me what he has never heard before”.

The reaction was instantaneous at the ministry of Communication, the website Tout sur l’Algérie says, citing a source: “The ministry will not tolerate any exaltation of violence (…) We will not tolerate any breach of ethics and professionalism even for non-authorised channels. We could sue this channel which is incorporated abroad. This channel has no official authorisation in Algeria ».

The website then had an interview with the boss of this channel, Madani Mezrag, who currently residing abroad. Reacting to the summons, he expressed his surprise, as in the past, Madani Mezrag was able to express himself on various media without being threatened.