In Algeria, a significant legal decision was made on Thursday when a court sentenced prominent French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal to five years imprisonment. Sansal, aged 76, was convicted for comments he made questioning the legitimacy of Algeria’s borders with Morocco, remarks that prosecutors asserted posed a threat to national security. This case has sparked increased tensions between the Algerian and French governments.
Following the court’s verdict, French President Emmanuel Macron called for Sansal’s release. He expressed his desire for the Algerian government to make compassionate and considerate decisions regarding Sansal, who is battling illness. Macron’s statement followed a summit on Ukraine in Paris, where he voiced his hope that Algeria would act humanely in this matter. Under current Algerian law, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has the authority to grant Sansal a pardon.
Sansal’s conviction was based on charges under Algeria’s anti-terrorism laws, which have been criticized by human rights organizations for being used as tools to silence dissenting voices. The charges against Sansal included undermining national unity, disrespecting public institutions, damaging the national economy, and spreading materials that could destabilize the nation. Although the sentence is half of what prosecutors initially sought, it remains significant. Sansal was also fined approximately $3,734.
The allegations against Sansal originated from an interview he gave last October to a right-leaning French media outlet, where he raised concerns about Algeria’s borders, implying they were altered during colonial times to include Moroccan lands. His subsequent arrest and condemnation by the Algerian president signaled the state’s disapproval. Sansal, however, denied any wrongdoing, asserting that his comments did not violate laws nor were they intended to harm Algeria.
Hociane Amine, an attorney present during the trial, noted that Sansal appeared stoic upon hearing the verdict. While the sentence is currently set at five years without parole, there’s potential for an appeal, and the Algerian president has the option to issue a pardon, which could be a diplomatic gesture in the tense climate with France. Sansal’s case has attracted widespread criticism from various European and French entities, including the European Parliament, civil rights organizations, and notable figures across France’s political landscape. Calls for his release have been echoed by figures such as Marine Le Pen and Macron, in addition to PEN International.
Sansal, who has been diagnosed with cancer, has been awaiting his fate from a hospital prison ward. Many commentators in France argue that the charges are politically motivated, connected to the strained relationship between Algiers and Paris. This strain intensified last summer when France shifted its stance to back Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a region supported by Algeria.
This diplomatic rift has had repercussions, including a canceled visit by the Algerian president to France and the imposition of new regulations on French businesses by Algeria. Additionally, Sansal’s arrest is indicative of increased censorship within Algeria, a state of affairs that has persisted since the ouster of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019. Dissent has been curtailed, with numerous journalists, activists, and legal professionals detained for expressing opposition, as reported by Amnesty International.
Prior to these events, Sansal, whose works are primarily published in French, faced some censorship but was generally able to travel between Paris and Algiers. His literature often critiques Algerian politics and societal issues, gaining him a substantial audience in France, albeit less so within Algeria. Notably, his dystopian novel “2084: The End of the World” garnered France’s Grand Prix du Roman in 2015.