First official reaction to the controversy arising following the arrest, more than ten days ago, of the writer Boualem Sansal. It comes from the president of the National People's Assembly (APN), Brahim Boughali.
Chairing a meeting of the Assembly's office last Sunday, the third man of state denounces “an attempt to interfere in Algeria's internal affairs” on the part of the European Parliament which opened five days ago , a debate on the Sansal case.
“The adhesion of the European Parliament and certain French media and political circles in an attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Algeria, is nothing but a blatant practice tending to obscure the real violations of human rights and of international law,” asserts Brahim Boughali, quoted in the press release from the APN office.
The President of the National People's Assembly refers, in particular, to what is happening in the Middle East and more particularly to the genocidal war being waged by the Israeli occupier in Ghaza, in occupied Palestine. Without quoting the writer, he believes that “Algerian justice ensures the protection of rights and freedoms”, specifying that “the law will apply to anyone who allows themselves to attack the security and stability of Algeria” .
Relentlessness of French deputies
The Algerian-French writer was arrested, remember, on November 16 upon his arrival at Algiers airport. While the prosecution has not communicated officially on this case, judicial sources confirmed that “the man was presented, Thursday, November 21, before the investigating judge at the Dar El Beida court in Algiers who 'placed under arrest warrant under, in particular, article 87 bis of the penal code'.
According to the same sources, he is accused of “attacking state security and the integrity of the national territory”, due to his recent statements to media close to the extreme right in France. The affair, which initially sparked reactions in France, was the subject of a debate in the European Parliament, which, according to several Western media, “mobilized for the release of Boualem Sansal.”
This debate was held, according to the same media, in the presence of European Commissioner Helena Dalli. The latter, report the same sources, “mentioned a measured diplomatic approach”, while considering that “the rule of law and freedom of expression are fundamental values of the EU”.
But some MEPs, notably Frenchman François-Xavier Bellamy (Les Républicains, right), even call for “using the levers available to Europe, particularly development aid”, against Algeria. He particularly targeted the Franco-Algerian agreement on migration issues, which he wants to see denounced.
In this debate in the European Parliament, it was the French leaders, including in particular those of the right and the extreme right, who fought fiercely, in accordance with their ideology, against Algeria.
