there is a “disproportion between what he is accused of and what is inflicted on him”, denounces his lawyer

The Franco-Algerian author was arrested on November 16 at Algiers airport and was then placed in detention.

“What is wrong is the disproportion between what he is accused of, which is still a crime of opinion, and what is inflicted on him”denounces Tuesday, November 27 on France Culture, Maître François Zimeray, lawyer for Boualem Sansal. The Franco-Algerian writer was placed under arrest warrant in Algeria where he is being prosecuted for attacks on state security. Boualem Sansal was arrested on November 16 at Algiers airport when he got off the plane.

“Here is someone who is not far from 80 years old and who is today in prison”alerts his lawyer. He “went to Algeria carelessly, in confidence. He knew that he could be threatened by the Islamists in particular whom he often denounced but certainly not to the point of being incarcerated by the authorities for having said what he believed right.” Algeria criticizes him in particular for an interview with the media Frontières where he questions Algerian sovereignty. “I think that this raises questions about the level of freedom of this country which is a sovereign and independent country, but are Algerians free and independent? This is the question raised by the incarceration of Boualem Sansal,” says François Zimeray.

“There are the agreements of [19]62 which allow a French lawyer to intervene in a procedure in Algeria, this does not pose any difficultiesexplains Me Zimeray, alongside Algerian lawyers I will intervene if this trial must go to the end if reason does not prevail. If he is not released, even if only because of his age, then there will have to be a trial and a trial is a public debate, a public debate around the writings of Boualem Sansal.”he adds. “I'm not sure that those who threw him in prison realize the extent to which they have no interest in it“, says the writer's lawyer.