Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal Detained on Controversial Charges

Sansal, a vocal critic of the Algerian regime, faces life imprisonment under accusations tied to his freedom of expression, while Amnesty International calls for clarity but refrains from official condemnation.

• Boualem Sansal, a prominent Franco-Algerian writer and critic of the Algerian government, was arrested on November 16, 2024, upon his arrival in Algiers.
• He has been charged under Algeria’s controversial Article 87 bis, which broadly defines acts of terrorism and subversion, and faces a potential life sentence.
• The Algerian government has accused Sansal of undermining national unity, citing his past statements about Algeria’s borders and history as evidence.
• Amnesty International has expressed concern over his detention but has not officially condemned it, citing a lack of independently verified information about his arrest.
• The case has drawn international attention and criticism, with observers linking it to Sansal’s outspoken advocacy for freedom of expression and his critiques of the regime.

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