The Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal was placed under arrest warrant after being questioned by the anti-terrorism prosecution in Algiers. He was arrested last week under unclear circumstances.
The fate of Boualem Sansal darkens. The Franco-Algerian writer, arrested in Algiers on November 16, was presented this Tuesday, November 26 by the anti-terrorism prosecution of Algiers. The 75-year-old man was placed under arrest warrant, his lawyer Maître François Zimeray said in a press release.
According to information from the JDD, he is being prosecuted for “terrorist or subversive act” by the Algerian justice system.
Boualem Sansal “who had gone to Algiers in confidence, is today placed in detention under article 87 bis of the Algerian penal code which punishes all attacks on state security”, thus indicated his lawyer.
A very critical speech of the Algerian regime
According to the Algerian penal code, article 87 bis stipulates that “any act targeting state security, territorial integrity, stability and the normal functioning of institutions is considered a terrorist act or sabotage.” However, the objects of these proceedings, modified in a law of February 2014, can designate very vague acts.
The author of “2084: The End of the World” was very critical of the Algerian regime, which censored his works.
According to Le Monde, his arrest could be due to comments made to the media Frontières, maintaining that Moroccan territory was truncated during French colonization, for the benefit of the Algerian regime. He obtained French nationality this year.
Since his arrest in Algiers, very little news has reached his relatives or his lawyer. The latter, in an interview with RTL, maintained that “some of his relatives consider that he risks up to an extremely long life sentence or ending his days in prison”.
“The deprivation of liberty of a writer of almost 80 years old because of his writings is a serious act (…), whatever the injuries invoked and the sensitivities offended,” concluded Maître François Zimeray in his press release today. 'today.
