Boualem Sansal, an 80-year-old French-Algerian writer, was sentenced to five years in prison by Algeria’s Criminal Court of Dar El Beïda on Thursday, following his conviction for undermining state integrity. Sansal, who has long been a vocal critic of the Algerian government, was also fined 500,000 Algerian dinars.
The charges stemmed from an interview Sansal gave to the French far-right media outlet Frontières, in which he questioned Algeria’s territorial integrity. He suggested that parts of western Algeria historically belonged to Morocco, referencing territorial adjustments during French colonial rule. Sansal’s statements ignited tensions between Algeria and Morocco, two countries with a complex history of territorial disputes.
Sansal was arrested on November 16, 2024, upon his arrival at Algiers Airport and later interrogated by the Algerian Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office. He was convicted under Article 87 bis of the Algerian Penal Code, which criminalizes acts deemed to threaten national unity or state security. In his defense, Sansal reaffirmed his patriotism, arguing that his comments were an exercise of free speech and that he never intended to undermine Algeria’s sovereignty.
François Zimeray, the French lawyer who initially represented Sansal, criticized the trial as unjust, calling it a betrayal of the concept of justice. Zimeray urged Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to intervene on humanitarian grounds. The trial was notably secretive, and Sansal dismissed his legal team after Zimeray was denied a visa.
French President Emmanuel Macron also voiced concerns for Sansal’s health following the verdict, calling for his release and proper medical care. Sansal, who is known for his political writings, has faced repeated harassment for his outspoken views on Algerian politics and history.
The verdict highlights Algeria’s ongoing repression of free speech and its pattern of prosecuting individuals for expressing dissenting opinions. Human rights organizations have decried the growing crackdown on journalists, activists, and critics in Algeria, emphasizing the importance of upholding fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial.
