Boualem Sansal, still detained in Algeria, appeals his detention

The Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, placed under arrest warrant in a penitentiary unit of a hospital in Algiers, has appealed against his detention, his lawyer reported on Wednesday, November 27, in a press release.

“He was able to speak freely today with the Algerian lawyers working as a team with his French defender. His general state of health is being monitored and he has not complained of ill-treatment during his custody.”specified M^e François Zimeray in this press release sent to Agence France-Presse.

The indictment chamber has twenty-one days to examine the appeal, he added.

Paris evokes “unacceptable” detention

Boualem Sansal, who has criticized Algerian leaders on numerous occasions, was arrested in mid-November as he arrived in his native country on a flight from France. He was detained under an article of the Algerian penal code punishing attacks on state security, according to his defense.

“We will endeavor to prepare a defense while taking care to exclude the political dimension of the case as much as possible”said M.^e Zimeray in the press release.

The head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, described Wednesday as“unacceptable” “unfounded detention” of the writer.