Algerian Author Boualem Sansal Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

Boualem Sansal, an Algerian author and new French citizen, has been sentenced to five years behind bars for allegedly undermining national unity in Algeria through pro-Moroccan statements, prompting outrage from international literary communities and calls for intervention from France.

Boualem Sansal, a prominent Algerian-French writer known for his poignant critiques of authority, was handed a five-year prison sentence by an Algerian court on allegations of threatening national security. The 80-year-old author, who became a French citizen just a year ago, was arrested in November over remarks favoring Morocco amid ongoing territorial tensions between the two North African countries.

Sansal’s trial was marked by controversy, as he reportedly had no access to legal representation, raising alarms about his right to due process. His lawyer, Francois Zimeray, condemned the proceedings, stating, “Cruel detention, 20 minutes of hearing, a forbidden defense and ultimately five years in prison for an innocent writer. The sentence betrays the very meaning of the word justice.”

Following the verdict, notable figures from the literary community have expressed solidarity, while French President Emmanuel Macron and other officials have intensified their calls for Sansal’s release, reflecting the historical tensions rooted in Algeria's colonial past under French rule.

Currently confined within Kolea prison near Algiers, Sansal's health is said to be deteriorating due to a cancer diagnosis, escalating concerns about his wellbeing and the implications of his imprisonment on freedom of expression in the region.