Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal Faces Life Sentence in Politically Charged Case

The 80-year-old author remains imprisoned under accusations of endangering state security, as international advocates call for his release.

Boualem Sansal, a prominent Franco-Algerian writer, was arrested in mid-November at Algiers airport and faces charges under Algeria's penal code article 87 bis, which includes severe penalties for acts deemed as terrorism or sabotage.
Sansal, known for his criticism of the Algerian regime and his controversial remarks about territorial history, could face life imprisonment despite a longstanding moratorium on the death penalty in Algeria.
His detention has sparked calls for global solidarity from intellectuals, writers, and human rights advocates, including his publisher Antoine Gallimard, who announced the creation of an international association to support oppressed writers.
Sansal's French lawyer, François Zimeray, has highlighted procedural irregularities, including restricted access to his client and a lack of detailed charges, and is considering escalating the case to international legal bodies like the UN.
The case underscores strained Franco-Algerian relations, with critics arguing that Sansal's arrest is a politically motivated act targeting freedom of expression and dissent.