An Algerian-French writer, Boualem Sansal, has received a five-year prison sentence in Algeria due to accusations of undermining national security, a verdict that has provoked outrage among global literary circles and prompted urgent appeals from the French government for his release. Born in Algeria and recently becoming a French citizen, Sansal was apprehended in November 2024 after comments made to French media expressing support for Morocco regarding a territorial conflict with Algeria.
His arrest has ignited a firestorm of protest from fellow authors and international rights groups, culminating in a formal trial where he reportedly had no access to legal assistance. The French lawyer representing Sansal, Francois Zimeray, denounced the proceedings as an alarming violation of justice, summarizing the situation as a “cruel detention” with merely 20 minutes of hearing, no defense permitted, and a harsh sentence handed down to an innocent writer.
Sansal, who is believed to be around 80 years old and is battling cancer, is currently incarcerated at Kolea prison, located near the capital city of Algiers. His case continues to shine a light on the broader issues of freedom of expression and the treatment of dissenting voices in Algeria, drawing significant attention and condemnation from across the globe.
