The sentencing of Boualem Sansal, a French-Algerian author, to five years in prison for allegedly undermining national security, draws widespread condemnation and signals escalating tensions between Algeria and France regarding freedom of expression.
Algerian Author Boualem Sansal Sentenced to Five Years in Prison Amid Global Backlash
Algerian Author Boualem Sansal Sentenced to Five Years in Prison Amid Global Backlash
Boualem Sansal's imprisonment ignites international calls for his release, highlighting tensions between Algeria and France.
An Algerian French writer, Boualem Sansal, has received a five-year prison sentence in Algeria, escalating concerns over freedom of expression in politically sensitive environments. The 80-year-old author was arrested in November 2024 following comments he made to French media in favor of Morocco during a territorial dispute with Algeria. His arrest has since sparked outrage from prominent figures in the literary community and triggered diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France, which previously ruled Algeria as a colony.
Authorities criticized Sansal for statements that supposedly threaten national unity and security. His trial reportedly took place under questionable legal circumstances, with his lawyer, Francois Zimeray, claiming that Sansal was denied legal representation, faced a mere 20 minutes of hearing, and was subjected to a “forbidden defense.” Zimeray described the outcome as a miscarriage of justice for a writer he claimed was innocent.
International responses have overwhelmingly denounced the ruling, with fervent calls for Sansal’s release coming from various factions, including French President Emmanuel Macron. The writer, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, is reportedly being held in Kolea prison, situated near the capital, Algiers. Critics assert that this incident highlights a broader issue regarding the repression of dissenting voices in Algeria, and underscores the complex historical relationship between the two nations.
