Hichem Aboud

Hichem Aboud (, born 15 June 1955) is an Algerian journalist and political activist. Aboud was the founder and redactor-in-chief of the "Mon Journal" newspaper. The newspaper was published in both French and Arabic. In 2013, the journal was banned in Algeria after reporting on Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika's health.

Early life Hichem Aboud was born in a Chaoui family on 15 June 1955 in Bab El Oued, Algiers. Aboud enrolled in the Algerian People's National Army in 1975. Aboud received a Diploma from the Institute of Political Science and Information at Algiers 1 University in 1978. During his work as Betchine's chief of staff, Aboud still contributed to El-Hadef under a pseudonym. In the book, which he created with the goal of "breaking the omerta", he denounces the Algerian government as a "political and military mafia". He renounced his political refugee status in 2011 and returned to Algeria. Aboud was banned from exiting Algerian territory by a judge after being found guilty of "undermining national security, territorial integrity and the proper functioning of state institutions".

He fled to France through Tunisia on 10 August 2013. Abdessami%27 Abdelhaï was subsequently arrested for allegedly assisting. He is currently living in France under a ten-year resident card. He created a YouTube channel named "Aboud Hichem TV" on 10 May 2018.

In February 2020, Aboud was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison by a court in Tébessa for "illegal immigration" on charges relating to his 2013 escape to France. In April 2021, Aboud was sentenced to seven years in prison by a courtroom in Chéraga for "disclosing confidential information" for reporting on Khaled Nezzar and his arrest warrant in Switzerland for crimes against humanity. An international arrest warrant was issued later that year, however, France has refused to extradite him to Algeria.

The charges against Aboud caused protest in Algeria, where protestors repeatedly chanted that "Hicham Aboud, [is a] free journalist" . His name was published on the Algerian government's national list of terrorist entities in February 2022, the list was taken offline from their website the next day. Aboud denies all of these accusations.

Kidnapping incident In 2022, Aboud alleged that he was the victim of an assassination plot in Brussels, Aboud reportedly pressed charges against people he believes were responsible in the plot. In October 2024, Aboud was kidnapped by two hooded men at Barcelona-El Prat Airport after taking a flight from Brussels. He was rescued days later and found tied up in a boat crossing the Guadalquivir by the Guardia Civil in Lebrija, 900 km away from Barcelona, two suspects were arrested.