LThe text, submitted by elected representatives from five of the eight political groups in the European Parliament (conservatives of the EPP, socialists, nationalists of ECR, liberals of Renew and ecologists), was adopted by a large majority (533 votes for, 24 against) .
Il “condemns the arrest and detention of Boualem Sansal and calls for his immediate and unconditional release” et “also condemns the arrests of all other activists, political prisoners, journalists, human rights defenders and others detained or convicted for exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression”.
Boualem Sansal, aged 75, has been incarcerated since mid-November in Algeria and prosecuted under article 87 bis of the Penal Code, which punishes “as a terrorist or subversive act, any act targeting state security, territorial integrity, stability and the normal functioning of institutions”.
The resolution adopted by MEPs asks Algeria to review this article as well as “all repressive laws which restrict freedoms”.
“Future disbursements of EU funds should all take into account progress made” in matters of respect for the rule of law and freedom of expression, adds the resolution.
-The case of the writer, naturalized French in 2024, has inflamed the already stormy relations between France and its former colony.
French President Emmanuel Macron denounced in early January the incarceration “totally arbitrary” from the writer, “seriously ill”, sparking an outcry in Algeria where the government denounced a “unacceptable interference“from Paris”in an internal matter”.
According to the French daily The Worldthe Algerian government would have taken badly with Sansal’s statements to the French media Bordersreputed to be far-right, taking up Morocco’s position according to which the country’s territory was truncated under French colonization for the benefit of Algeria.
