Mr. President of the Republic,
For more than three months, an 80-year-old writer, a Francophone voice, one of the greatest voices of French and Algerian literature, our compatriot and friend Boualem Sansal, has been held hostage.
He is first and foremost the hostage of a regime that in Algeria tramples on freedom of expression, "the most precious right of man" according to the terms of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789. This regime has literally kidnapped Boualem Sansal. The reasons for his arrest at Algiers airport are not based on any law, except for the brutal force of a military-police power.
France is a great democracy whose Enlightenment has spread and continues to spread throughout the world, and this is indeed the main message that emerges from the writings of Boualem Sansal.
Therefore, we must say the words: this is the arbitrary detention of a man you know, whose only crime is to write in French…
Boualem Sansal: A Writer Silenced
Boualem Sansal is a renowned Algerian writer whose works have been translated into more than 30 languages. He is known for his fearless and incisive writing, which often criticizes the Algerian regime.
In his novel "2084: The End of the World," Sansal imagines a dystopian future in which Algeria is ruled by a totalitarian regime. The novel was banned in Algeria and Sansal was accused of "insulting Islam."
In 2016, Sansal was interrogated by the Algerian police for several hours and was forced to sign a document stating that he would not write anything critical of the regime. Despite these threats, Sansal has continued to speak out against the government.
The Regime’s Crackdown on Dissent
Sansal’s detention is part of a wider crackdown on dissent in Algeria. In recent months, the authorities have arrested several other journalists and activists.
The regime is using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to silence critics. The government has imposed a state of emergency, which has given it sweeping powers to arrest and detain people without charge.
France’s Responsibility
France has a long history of supporting freedom of expression and human rights. The French government has a responsibility to speak out against the regime’s crackdown on dissent in Algeria.
The French government can also provide practical support to Sansal and other detained activists. The government can offer financial assistance to their families and provide legal representation.
A Call to Action
We urge you to take action to help Boualem Sansal and other detained activists in Algeria.
- Speak out against the regime’s crackdown on dissent.
- Provide practical support to Sansal and other detained activists.
- Call on the Algerian government to release Sansal and all other political prisoners.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. We must not allow the Algerian regime to silence its critics.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
