Algeria: Boualem Sansal's arrest and detention raises concerns about freedom of expression

We are gravely concerned by the arrest and detention of prominent writer and novelist Boualem Sansal, particularly as his whereabouts remained unknown for over a week. No one should face arrest, enforced disappearance, or detention for peacefully expressing their views. Sansal must be freed immediately, and the Algerian authorities must end their assault on freedom of expression in the country,” said Burhan Sonmez, President of PEN International.

9 December 2024: PEN International strongly condemns the arrest and detention of prominent Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. Pending his release, PEN International urges that he be granted adequate access to his family and a lawyer of his choice. The organisation calls on the Algerian authorities to uphold Algeria’s international obligations to protect the right to freedom of expression under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

On 16 November, Algerian authorities arrested French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal upon arrival at Algiers airport, Algeria. His whereabouts remained unknown for over a week, during which he was denied access to his family and legal counsel, contrary to international law. Sansal was subjected to interrogations in the absence of his lawyer, in violation of his right to a fair trial. He was subsequently charged with national security-related offenses under article 87 bis of the Algerian Penal Code, a provision criticized for its frequent use against government critics, including human rights defenders. According to his legal team, the charges are based on previous statements he made to the media that were interpreted as threatening Algeria national security. Sansal has appealed his pre-trial detention, with a hearing scheduled for 11 December.

Boualem Sansal is the author of 2084: The End of the World, and Le bénévole des barbares, among a dozen other remarkable novels. He received the Prix du Premier Roman  and Prix Tropiques for his debut novel Le bénévole des barbares in 1999, and the Arab Novel Prize for his novel Rue Darwin in 2012. Sansal was also awarded the German Book Trade Peace Prize in 2011, and honoured with the Grand Prix de la Francophonie from the Académie Française in 2013.

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For more information, please contact Mina Thabet, Head of the MENA Region, at PEN International, email: Mina.Thabet@pen-international.org