Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

Algerian prosecutors seek 10 years jail for writer Bousalem Sansal

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 20 Mar 2025 21:26
4 Min Read

The Algerian writer previously made statements claiming that France's colonization of North Africa "reduced Moroccan territory to benefit Algeria," infuriating Algerian authorities.

Listen
  • x
  • Algerian Writer Bousalem Sansal seen at the 2018 edition of the
    Algerian Writer Bousalem Sansal seen at the 2018 edition of the "Livre sur la Place" literary festival, Nancy, France, September 9, 2018 (Wikimedia Commons, ActuaLitte)

Algerian prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison term for French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, accusing him of threatening the nation’s territorial integrity, according to local media reports on Thursday.

A leading voice in North African modern francophone literature, Sansal is widely recognized for his criticism of both Algerian authorities and Islamists. The 80-year-old was detained in November upon arriving at Algiers airport amid growing tensions between France and its former colony. A verdict on his case is expected on March 27.

Algerian media outlet TSA revealed that Sansal was charged with "affecting national unity, insulting a constitutional body, practices of a nature likely to harm the national economy, and possession of videos and publications threatening the security and stability of the country."

Speaking in an October interview with the far-right French media outlet Frontieres, Sansal claimed that during its colonization of North Africa, France had reduced Moroccan territory to benefit Algeria, thus infuriating authorities in Algeria, according to the French newspaper Le Monde.

Appearing in court near Algiers on Thursday, Sansal denied any intent to attack Algeria, stating that he had merely "expressed an opinion like any Algerian citizen," according to the newspaper Echorouk. He added that he did not think his comments could be considered an attack on Algerian institutions, emphasizing that he is an "Algerian who loves his country."

Sansal has no lawyers, Echourouk reported, adding that he opted to represent himself in court instead, while his lawyer in France stated that the writer had no access to lawyers or medical care, both allegations Algerian institutions denied.

Related News

Algeria upholds prison sentence for French-Algerian writer Sansal

Tensions between France and Algeria have worsened since July 2024, when President Emmanuel Macron voiced support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara territory.

Algeria and France get into diplomatic row

This comes as the influencer known as "Doualemn," a 59-year-old, was taken into custody by French authorities in Montpellier for sharing a controversial video on TikTok and was initially deported to Algeria on January 9, according to his lawyer, only to be sent back to France the same evening as Algeria denied his entry.

The Algerian influencer was detained in Montpellier on March 20 and will be deported from French territory to Algeria, as reported by BFMTV and confirmed by Le Parisien, after the Hérault Deportation Commission ruled in favor of his deportation on March 12.

France's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau accused Algeria of seeking to humiliate France, while Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot cautioned that visa restrictions or aid reductions could be imposed, emphasizing that France would have "no option but to retaliate" if "the Algerians continue to escalate" the dispute.

Algeria dismissed France's accusations of escalating tensions, instead blaming the French far-right for orchestrating a "campaign of disinformation" amid their diplomatic dispute over the deportation of an influencer, with the Algerian Foreign Ministry asserting that the country is "in no way engaged in a logic of escalation... or humiliation" in a statement published January 12.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its position against France's hostility, stating that "any violation of the 1968 agreement, which has already been emptied of all its substance and essence, will result in a similar decision by Algeria regarding other agreements and protocols of the same nature," in a February 27 statement.

This closely followed the French Prime Minister's threats on February 26 to review the 1968 migration pact, with Algeria accusing France of breaching its commitments by arbitrarily deporting Algerians without offering them legal recourse.

"Amid escalation and tensions added by the French side to relations between Algeria and France, Algeria did not initiate any form of rupture and instead left the French side to bear full responsibility alone," the ministry stated, adding that Algeria took on the responsibility of self-restraint and is exercising its rights and fulfilling its duties to Algerian nationals in France.

  • Bousalem Sansal
  • France
  • Algeria
  • Western Sahara

Most Read

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025
UKLFI’s latest faux pas, like "Israel’s" recent failed attempt at regime change in Iran, is unambiguously indicative of a flailing entity on the verge of extinction. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Zionist lawfare operation facing collapse?

  • Opinion
  • 13 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS