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Algerian prosecutor seeks 10-year prison sentence for Boualem Sansal

Wednesday 25 June 2025 - 11:20
Algerian prosecutor seeks 10-year prison sentence for Boualem Sansal
By: Dakir Madiha
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A public prosecutor in Algeria has demanded a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of one million Algerian dinars for French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal. The appeal court is set to announce its decision on July 1.

Sansal, a prominent writer, was initially sentenced to five years in prison in March this year. He was arrested upon his arrival in Algiers on November 16, 2024, and charged with undermining Algeria’s territorial integrity. The charges stemmed from remarks he made in an interview, where he criticized France for allegedly transferring Moroccan territory to Algeria during the colonial period.

The author’s legal team has appealed the ruling, and his lawyer has suggested that a presidential pardon may be possible under Article 91 of the Algerian Constitution. The lawyer also indicated that if a humanitarian release were to become an option, he would advise Sansal to withdraw the appeal.

The case has drawn international attention and further strained the already fragile relations between Algeria and France. French President Emmanuel Macron has been vocal about the author’s imprisonment, describing Algeria’s actions as a “disgrace” and condemning the denial of medical care to the gravely ill writer. Macron’s criticism came amid wider diplomatic tensions between the two nations, fueled by France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara and Algeria’s refusal to accept deported nationals from France.

As the July 1 verdict approaches, the case remains a flashpoint in the ongoing political and diplomatic challenges facing Algeria and France.

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