- 10:30
The detention of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algiers has ignited a wave of global indignation. Nobel laureates and intellectuals are rallying for his release, condemning an intolerable attack on freedom of expression and a climate of fear in Algeria.
The arrest of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal upon his arrival at Algiers airport on November 16 has sparked outrage across the literary world and beyond. At 75 years old, this committed intellectual, who became a French citizen in 2024, is known for his courageous stance against Islamism and totalitarianism. His detention by Algerian authorities, confirmed on November 22 by the official news agency Algeria Press Service (APS), has triggered a strong international mobilization, notably from several Nobel Prize-winning authors.
At the initiative of Kamel Daoud, winner of the 2024 Prix Goncourt, an open letter signed by numerous literary figures was published on Saturday, November 23, in the weekly Le Point. The signatories, including Nobel laureates Annie Ernaux, Jean-Marie Le Clézio, Orhan Pamuk and Wole Soyinka, as well as Salman Rushdie, Sylvain Tesson and Bernard-Henri Lévy, are demanding "the immediate release" of Boualem Sansal and all writers imprisoned for their ideas.
In this poignant text, Kamel Daoud expresses his "deep concern" about the "alarming" situation currently prevailing in Algeria. "Today, I address you with profound concern," he writes. "The arrest of Boualem Sansal is a tragic event revealing an alarming reality in Algeria and symbolizing the suppression of freedom of expression."
The Prix Goncourt winner paints a moving portrait of his friend, comparing him to "an old biblical prophet, smiling" in the face of adversity. He denounces a situation where "now, anything is possible: life imprisonment for a text message, prison for a sigh of annoyance."
Kamel Daoud highlights Boualem Sansal's lifelong commitment "against oppression, injustice, and Islamist totalitarianism," emphasizing his enduring courage. He describes a climate of fear hanging over intellectuals and book professionals in Algeria, "Writers and intellectuals, publishers, and booksellers live in fear of reprisals, accusations of espionage, arbitrary arrests, trials, defamation, and violent media attacks targeting them and their loved ones."
The publishing house Gallimard, which publishes Boualem Sansal's works in France, also reacted to his arrest. In a statement, Antoine Gallimard, CEO of Gallimard editions, expressed his "astonishment and indignation" in the face of this "intolerable attack on freedom of expression." He called for the "immediate release" of the writer and assured that his publishing house would continue to "defend with the greatest determination" its author and his work.
This unprecedented mobilization of Nobel laureates and leading literary figures in support of Boualem Sansal reflects the emotion stirred by his arrest, seen as an intolerable attack on freedom of expression. It comes as Algerian authorities officially confirmed the writer's detention while remaining vague about the precise reasons behind the decision.
In an article published on November 22, the Algeria Press Service, which operates under the Algerian Ministry of Information, claimed that Boualem Sansal's writings could undermine "state security, territorial integrity, stability, or the normal functioning of institutions." According to the same source, these serious accusations could lead to terrorism charges punishable by life imprisonment.
The official agency also lashed out at calls for the writer's release, labeling them as part of a "Macronist-Zionist France," portraying them as "further proof of a 'hostile' movement against Algeria," and as evidence of "a lobby that seizes every opportunity to challenge Algerian sovereignty."
These statements highlight the current diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria, fueled by disagreements over the Western Sahara issue. In July, France supported Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed territory, which greatly displeased Algiers.
Beyond these geopolitical considerations, the core issue in this case is fundamental freedoms. As Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, pointed out in an op-ed published after Boualem Sansal's arrest, this "method from another era" should prompt reflection on "our own determination to fight fanaticism."
For Estrosi, the writer embodies "rare virtues: bravery, sincerity, and flair, even at the risk of his life," as well as "the promise of a different future" for Algeria, "far from the heavy legacies of fanaticism and intolerance." He describes Sansal as "a bridge between the two shores of the Mediterranean," who refuses "to confine the relationship between Algeria and France to resentment or repentance."
The shockwave caused by Boualem Sansal's arrest extends beyond France. Numerous Algerian intellectuals have expressed their solidarity and concern, including Yasmina Khadra, who described the situation as "unbearable" in comments to AFP.
Faced with this international mobilization, and with French President Emmanuel Macron saying he was "deeply concerned" about the fate of the Franco-Algerian writer, Algerian authorities cannot ignore calls for Boualem Sansal's release. Beyond his personal case, the issue of freedom of expression and creation is being forcefully brought to the forefront by this high-profile affair.
In a world where dissenting voices are too often silenced, and where critical intellectuals face threats and persecution, it is more necessary than ever to defend the inalienable right of writers and artists to express themselves freely without fear of reprisal. This is the cause Boualem Sansal has championed throughout his life—a cause that the international community must pursue with determination to ensure that tolerance, dialogue and respect for human rights prevail everywhere.
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