Global Support Grows for Detained Writer Boualem Sansal

The Franco-Algerian author remains imprisoned in Algeria as international calls for his release intensify ahead of a solidarity event in Paris.

Boualem Sansal, an 80-year-old Franco-Algerian writer, has been detained in Algeria since mid-November, facing potential life imprisonment for his outspoken criticism of the regime and Islamism.
His request for provisional release was denied on December 11, and he has been transferred to Koléa prison, 35 km from Algiers, where he is reportedly held in isolation.
A broad international support committee, led by Catherine Camus and comprising over 700 prominent figures, is advocating for his release and raising awareness of his plight.
A major solidarity event is scheduled for December 16 at the Théâtre Libre in Paris, featuring intellectuals, writers, and public figures discussing Sansal's work and the broader fight for freedom of expression.
Supporters emphasize the need for a universal, non-partisan mobilization to secure Sansal's freedom and highlight the broader implications for human rights and intellectual freedom globally.