Arrested last November, the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal appeared this Thursday morning in court. Ten years in prison and a million fine dinars were required against him.
The verdict will not be returned until March 27, in a week. But the prosecution requested this Thursday, March 20, ten years in prison and a million Algerian dinars on Thursday, March 20, just under 6,900 euros, against the Franco-Algerian writer. Best -selling daily in Algeria, Echourouk echoed this trial. Arrested on November 16, 2024 when he left the plane from Paris, Boualem Sansal, 75, is prosecuted for several charges: “Affected by national unity, outrage in an institution constituted, involved in public order, practices likely to harm the national economy and possession of videos and publications threatening national security and stability”, recalls the Algerian daily.
Prosecutions that fall within the framework of article 87 bis of the Algerian penal code according to which “any act aimed at the security of the state, national unity, territorial integrity, stability of institutions and their normal functioning is an act of terrorism or sabotage”. The Algerian authorities criticize in particular in Boualem Sansal for having made remarks on the belonging of Western Algeria in Morocco in an interview with the French media Boundaries.
A “ghost trial held in the greatest secrecy, defenseless”
Suffering from prostate cancer, for which it would be followed in the penitentiary pavilion of the Mustapha-Pacha university hospital in Algiers, relates The worldBoualem Sansal would have appeared “healthy” this Thursday, says Echouroukwho attended the hearing. An audience in which the Franco-Algerian writer was invited to express himself on the words he was able to make. Still according to EchouroukBoualem Sansal would have preferred to defend himself, refusing the lawyer committed automatically designated by the Algerian justice. Information which seems confirmed the words of the Bâtonnier of Algiers in the newspaper El Watan. He said a month ago that Boualem Sansal had sent a letter to the judge in which he challenged “all of his lawyers, including Me Zimeray”, his French lawyer mandated by his historic publisher, Gallimard.
No explanation was specified. The French lawyer claims, however, having never received the slightest official confirmation of this decision, relays The world. The latter even deplores that he did not have access to his client and undertook to bring the case to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. This Thursday, he regretted a “ghost trial held in the greatest secrecy, defenseless, […]incompatible with the very idea of justice “. And to estimate:” This confirms the arbitrary nature of this procedure and of detention as unjust as it is cruel. “
“I only express an opinion”
Boualem Sansal therefore defended himself. “I did not want to do anything against my country, I only express an opinion, like any Algerian citizen,” he said Thursday, saying that she is Algerian, loveing his country and that his patriotism is indisputable, reports Echourouk. The writer would have maintained his line of defense, according to which he in no way wanted to offend Algeria. He also declared that he was unaware of the potential damage that his statements could generate for national institutions. While the arrest of Boualem Sansal has strongly reacted in certain French political and intellectual circles, the Algerian daily reports that “the trial took place in a normal way, without any exceptional procedure”. While Boualem Sansal risks a much heavier pain than the ten years required for him, some see it as a gesture of appeasement, in the particularly tense Franco-Algerian context in recent months. The acceleration of the judicial calendar would open the way to a possible diplomatic compromise, we also hoped behind the scenes, as reported The world.