Guest of Jean-Jacques Bourdin on Sud Radio, the environmentalist deputy from Paris denounces the writer's imprisonment in Algeria, where he faces life imprisonment. But criticizes her comments which, according to her, relate « of a form of supremacism ».
« It is scandalous that he is imprisoned, it is scandalous that his lawyer does not have the right to enter Algeria, there is no doubt about it »declares Sandrine Rousseau about Boualem Sansal, Tuesday December 10, at the microphone of Sud Radio. Once these words were spoken, the environmentalist deputy from Paris did not fail to deliver her analysis, to say the least clear-cut, on the causes of the writer's incarceration.
A “yes, but” that Richard Malka denounced in the columns of Marianne. « I know Boualem Sansal, a great writer, of rare courage, a true fighter against Islamism. And that is precisely what he is accused of. Including in France, where certain pseudo-intellectuals, with unbearable contempt, say that it must be defended… but add a yes, but», declared the former lawyer of Charlie Hebdo.
Sandrine Rousseau indeed displays ambivalent support for the Franco-Algerian writer. « I would also like to state that the remarks and positions held (by Boualem Sansal, Editor’s note) are comments made by the extreme right », she maintains. Before emphasizing: « He does not have to be in prison in any way, he must be defended, it is a fundamental human right. However, let us remember that he is not an angel in his positions. »
On Wednesday, December 11, the request for the release of the 80-year-old writer was rejected by the Algiers Court of Appeal. At the end of November, his lawyer François Zimeray told BFMTV that « the risk of life imprisonment is real for the type of offense » who would be accused of it.
« A serious slippage »
Arrested under article 87 bis of the Algerian Penal Code, Boualem Sansal would therefore have become a “terrorist” in the eyes of the regime. He would thus have harmed “ state security, national unity, territorial integrity and even the normal functioning of institutions “. According to Yves Thréard, deputy editorial director of Figaro, « the arrest of Boualem Sansal could be linked to comments he allegedly made on the Eastern Sahara. » Boualem Sansal would be suspected of taking over « the expansionist Moroccan theses of the Al Istiqlal party », defender of independence.
Yves Thréard specifies on the set of Figaro Live that« At the time of independence, Algerians retained territory in southwestern Algeria, which historically belonged to Morocco. This gave rise, after the independence of Algeria, to a fairly violent conflict between Algeria and Morocco called the War of the Sands. Morocco was very offensive in this conflict. »
No stranger to controversial positions, Sandrine Rousseau denounces comments « relating to a form of supremacism », from the Franco-Algerian writer. « Supremacism is still the idea that there are civilizations which are superior to others. This is precisely what will lead us into chaos. The increase in popularity of these theses, whether in the United States, whether partly in France or elsewhere in the world, inevitably leads us to confrontation », she adds.
After the rejection of Boualem Sansal's request for release, his case must now be sent back to the investigating judge, according to the Algerian government daily El Moudjahid.
