The European Union Parliament adopted on Thursday a resolution calling for the immediate release of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who has been detained in Algeria since November.
“Sansal must be immediately and unconditionally released, alongside journalist Abdelwakil Blamm, writer Tadjadit Mohamed, and all other activists, journalists, human rights defenders and people detained for exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression in Algeria,” according to a statement released by the Parliament.
The resolution was adopted by 533 votes for, 24 against and 48 abstentions. It was supported by five of the eight political groups in the European Parliament (conservatives from the European People's Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists, nationalists from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, liberals from the Renew Europe Group, and the Group of the Greens).
The 75-year-old writer, granted French nationality in 2024, is being held under Article 87 of the Algerian penal code, which covers terrorism, threats and state security.
His detention by Algeria comes against a background of tensions between France and its former colony.
Last January, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Algeria, saying Sansal was being held “in a totally arbitrary manner” by the Algerian authorities. In response, the Algerian government dismissed Macron’s comments, calling them “an unacceptable intrusion in Algeria’s internal affairs.”
