ALGIERS, Algeria — Algerian lawmakers have expressed their disapproval of a resolution from the European Parliament that criticizes the detainment of French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal.
On Monday, representatives from both houses of Algeria’s parliament issued a statement denouncing the European Parliament’s resolution, claiming it is based on “misleading allegations” aimed purely at launching an overt attack against Algeria.
Since the author’s arrest on November 16, his situation has captured the attention of several European writers, artists, and politicians, particularly those on the right in France who support his critical views on Islam.
Sansal faces charges under an anti-terrorism law that activists and human rights organizations argue is manipulated by Algerian authorities to suppress dissent and silence government criticism. At 76 years old, he is one of several writers currently imprisoned, as mentioned in the European Parliament’s recent resolution, which also highlights the cases of journalist Abdelwakil Blamm and poet Mohamed Tadjadit.
Algerian lawmakers accused the European Parliament of engaging in political meddling, questioning whether their concerns were genuinely about Sansal’s safety or rather aimed at damaging Algeria’s reputation.
This exchange reflects ongoing tensions between European nations and countries that were historically colonized by members of the European Union, with many seeing such critiques as condescending.
Earlier in 2023, Moroccan legislators expressed their discontent with the European Parliament after it passed a resolution urging Morocco to respect press freedom and provide fair trials for three journalists in custody.
The dispute over Sansal’s situation adds to the growing friction between Algeria and France. For nearly a year, these two nations have been at odds over various issues, including immigration and repatriation, the long-disputed Western Sahara, and the residual effects of French nuclear testing in Algeria’s Sahara Desert—subjects which lawmakers addressed with a resolution just last week.
