The mystery remains after the disappearance of Boualem Sansal. According to several media, the Franco-Algerian writer was arrested on November 16 upon his arrival at Algiers international airport from Paris. Since then, we have not known the state of health or the conditions of detention of the 75-year-old novelist and essayist, known for his very critical positions against the power in place in Algeria and religious fundamentalism.
“What I know today, finally what I think I know based on the information sent to me, is that he will be presented to the prosecution this afternoon,” his lawyer explained this Monday, François Zimeray, on RTL. “Until now, he has not had access to a defense. A lawyer should be appointed to him by the President of the Bar of Algiers, with whom I spoke yesterday,” continued Maître Zimeray, considering it “very important that he be defended by an Algerian lawyer, and if possible a lawyer of his choice” and calling for a “fair trial.”
“Avoid doing as much as possible”, according to his lawyer
While the arrest of Boualem Sansal, winner of several literary prizes, has caused great emotion in France and the mobilization is growing to demand his release, his lawyer believes that we must “avoid doing as much as possible at this stage “. “Some wanted to make Boualem Sansal, and this arrest, the occasion of another irritant in the Franco-Algerian relationship. And the role of his defense today is obviously not to do anything that goes in this direction,” insisted Maître Zimeray.
The writer's arrest comes in a tense diplomatic context between France and Algeria after Paris' support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara at the end of July.
France
