French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Algeria to release 80-year-old writer Boualem Sansal, who was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday for allegedly undermining Algeria’s territorial integrity. Sansal, a French-Algerian author, was arrested after remarks to a French far-right media outlet, where he suggested that during the colonial era, France allocated too much land to Algeria and too little to Morocco.
The case has drawn international support, with figures like Nigerian author Wole Soyinka, Indian-British novelist Salman Rushdie, and French intellectuals advocating for Sansal’s release. A conservative mayor in Paris has even pledged to distribute free copies of Sansal’s books to local 18-year-olds, framing his conviction as an attack on free speech.
Macron, speaking at a press conference, expressed hope that Algeria’s leadership would show “humanitarian decisions” and release Sansal, particularly considering his deteriorating health. Earlier this year, Macron warned that the writer’s detention was a significant issue in the already strained relationship between France and Algeria, which worsened after France’s support for Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara.
Sansal, a vocal critic of Islamism and the Algerian government, is known for his controversial views and his 2084 novel, which critiques religious extremism. While he is admired by some for his stance on freedom of speech, others, including far-right figures like Marine Le Pen, have praised him as a “fighter for liberty.”
His sentencing comes amid growing tensions between France, Algeria, and Morocco, and has placed Sansal at the heart of a diplomatic standoff. As calls for his release intensify, the writer’s case highlights the ongoing challenges of free expression and political freedom in the region.
