French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, detained in Algeria since November 2024, has been discharged from hospital and returned to prison, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed in an interview with “Sud Radio”, outlet Le Figaro reported.
The 75-year-old writer, known for his criticism of the Algerian regime, is being held on charges under Article 87 bis of Algeria’s Penal Code, which labels actions deemed as threatening state security or territorial integrity as acts of terrorism or subversion.
“Boualem Sansal left the hospital a few days ago and returned to the prison near Algiers where he is detained,” Minister Barrot stated, adding that the French government received this information from Sansal’s wife. He also confirmed that Algerian authorities had denied France’s request for consular access to the dual-national writer.
Sansal’s detention, since November 16 last year, has sparked widespread international outrage, with the European Parliament overwhelmingly adopting a resolution condemning Algeria’s human rights violations and demanding his immediate release. Lawmakers criticized the use of vague charges like those applied against Sansal to suppress dissent and stifle free speech in the country.
Minister Barrot expressed France’s readiness to engage in dialogue with Algerian authorities to improve bilateral relations. “I am prepared to visit Algeria at the appropriate time to address all aspects of our relationship. De-escalation is crucial for the benefit of both the Algerian and French peoples,” he said.
Sansal was arrested on November 16, 2024, upon his arrival to Algiers Airport from Paris. Initially held incommunicado for six days, he now faces possible life imprisonment or the death penalty under Algeria’s controversial anti-terrorism laws. His detention is reportedly linked to comments he made in a media interview suggesting that Algeria’s current borders were shaped by French colonial policies to Morocco’s detriment, according to Le Monde.
The European Parliament’s resolution not only addressed Sansal’s case but also condemned Algeria’s broader crackdown on activists, journalists, and human rights defenders. Amnesty International has reported that approximately 300 prisoners are currently held in Algerian jails for expressing dissent in the political backdrop. The organization described Sansal’s imprisonment as emblematic of the country’s escalating authoritarianism.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who granted Sansal French citizenship in 2023, has strongly criticized Algeria’s actions. “The Algeria we hold dear is dishonoring itself by imprisoning a gravely ill writer,” Macron declared, emphasizing that freedom of expression must be protected. He called Sansal’s detention “arbitrary” and urged Algerian authorities to release him immediately.
Sansal’s case has become a symbol of resistance against repression in Algeria, drawing comparisons to broader patterns of government oppression. European lawmakers, human rights organizations, and public intellectuals alike have rallied in his defense, calling his imprisonment a blatant violation of international human rights standards.
As international pressure mounts, observers hope that Algeria will respond to the growing calls for Sansal’s release. For now, however, the acclaimed writer remains behind bars, his fate uncertain, but his voice amplifying the global fight for freedom of expression.