El-Watan (Arabic, The Homeland), is an Algerian newspaper started on October 8, 1990, as Algeria moved from a one-party state towards democracy (a process that was impeded by the outbreak of the Algerian Civil War). It is, despite its name, written in the French language. Arabic (; , less formally, ) is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... A homeland is the concept of the territory to which one belongs; usually, the country in which a particular nationality was born. ... October 8 is the 281st day of the year (282nd in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... A single-party state or one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system and form of government where only a single political party dominates the government and no opposition parties are allowed. ... Combatants Algerian government Islamic Armed Movement (MIA) Armed Islamic Group (GIA) Islamic Salvation Army (AIS) others. ... French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ...

The paper aims to promote democracy and to give coverage to the Algerian opposition, and has acted as an outspoken voice against censorship and corruption. It has been suspended several times by the Algerian government, and journalists and editors jailed for various offenses. Its reporters have, according to the international press watchdogs Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) been targeted by both government forces and Islamist insurgents.[1][2] In politics, the opposition is one or more political parties or other organized groups opposed to the government, party or group in political control of an area, county, state, nation or country. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Reporters Without Borders, or RWB (French: Reporters sans frontières, Spanish: Reporteros Sin Fronteras, or RSF) is an international non-governmental organization interested in issues relating to freedom of the press. ... The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is an independent, nonprofit organization based in New York which is dedicated to promoting press freedom worldwide and defending the right of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal. ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority, by any irregular armed force that rises up against an enforced or established authority, government, or administration. ...

External links

• El-Watan homepage
• El-Watan ordered to pay fine - IFEX