Emotion and indignation still reign after the arrest in Algeria of the writer Boualem Sansal. This Monday, the French Academy said it hoped to see the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, arrested in mid-November in Algeria, “released without delay”.
The institution reacted to a column published on Sunday of around thirty writers winners of its Grand Prix du roman in Le Figarofor the “physical backup“and the “respect for basic rights” of the writer.
“The French Academy warmly welcomes the initiative of the winners of its Grand Prix du roman. It shares their hope of seeing Boualem Sansal released without delay”she indicated.
“All the members of our academy are eager to see this writer, both from France and Algeria, return as quickly as possible to the life which, until now, was his, inhabited by an obstinate desire to write and not to suffer”she added.
Towards an emergency vote at the Académie Française?
On Saturday, academician Jean-Christophe Rufin indicated that he had proposed to the other “Immortals” and “emergency vote” to elect Boualem Sansal as academician.
The proposal clashes with the usual procedures of the French Academy, which provide for declaring a seat vacant, opening applications for a defined period, then finally proceeding to the election to decide between them. The Academy made no comment in its press release on this innovative proposal.
Difficult relations with Algeria
The Algerian government agency APS confirmed on Friday, without specifying the date or for what reasons, the “arrest” at Algiers airport of the author of “2084: The End of the World”. According to several media, it took place on November 16.
Diplomatic relations between France and Algeria, already difficult, were greatly strained after the support affirmed at the end of July by Paris for “autonomy plan” Moroccan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
