European Parliament Passes Resolution for Boualem Sansal's Release Amid Divisions

The resolution calling for the immediate release of the detained writer was widely supported but exposed fractures within the left and tensions over French-Algerian relations.

• The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved a resolution demanding the release of Boualem Sansal, a Franco-Algerian writer detained in Algeria since November 2024, with 533 votes in favor, 24 against, and 48 abstentions.
• Members of France Insoumise (LFI) and some far-left European deputies opposed or abstained from voting, citing concerns over the resolution's perceived alignment with right-wing political agendas.
• Rima Hassan, an LFI MEP, faced backlash for echoing Algerian government rhetoric and questioning Sansal's French identity, highlighting her own recent naturalization history.
• The resolution ties Sansal's release to broader EU-Algeria relations, potentially impacting negotiations on key agreements with the Algerian government.
• The case underscores ongoing tensions between France and Algeria, as well as divisions within European left-wing factions over human rights and geopolitical alignments.

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