Algerian blogger detained for supporting terrorism, expected to file for bail Thursday

AFP reported late Wednesday that Algerian blogger Abdelghani Aloui, who was detained for "contempt" and "defending terrorism" after he posted cartoons online that mock the country's president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is expected to file for bail Thursday.

The cartoon reportedly ridicules Bouteflika, as well as Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal.

The defending terrorism charge is not in relation to the cartoon posting explicitly, but rather due to the fact that upon Aloui's arrest, he was found in possession of a scarf that had the phrase, "There is no God but God" imprinted upon it.

Aloui expected to file for bail Thursday after 15 days in custody.

In June 2012, another Algerian blogger received an eight-month jail sentence, along with fines, after using an online forum to call for a national boycott of the country's legislative elections.