The prominent journalist is accused of illegally receiving money from people and organisations “in exchange for carrying out activities that could harm state security".

Amnesty said the accusations against the journalist were "trumped-up state security related offences" and condemned what it called a “ruthless campaign to silence critics”.

“El Kadi’s unjustified detention by the Algerian authorities is a grave injustice compounded by the violation of his fair trial rights,” Amnesty said.

The journalist was remanded on 29 December, days after being detained.

On Sunday, a judge renewed the decision to hold him in pre-trial detention.

Amnesty said no lawyers from his defence team were present at that time to challenge the lawfulness of his imprisonment.