Ten Years in Prison Requested for Franco-Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal, Verdict Expected on March 27

The Algerian prosecutor’s office has requested a ten-year prison sentence for Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, accused of undermining Algeria’s territorial integrity. The verdict is set to be delivered on March 27, confirmed Mohamed Baghdadi, the head of the Algiers bar association, on Thursday, March 20.

A Detention Surrounded by Uncertainty

Arrested upon his arrival at Algiers airport last November, Boualem Sansal has been held in custody for several months without his lawyers having access to his case file. During his trial, he appeared alone, facing multiple charges, including “undermining national unity,” “insulting a constituted body,” “engaging in activities harmful to the national economy,” and “possessing videos and publications threatening national security and stability.”

His lawyer, François Zimeray, has condemned the lack of transparency and fairness in the proceedings: “Nothing has been transparent, nothing has been official from the start. Boualem has no access to his lawyers, and we have no access to his file.” Describing the trial as a “phantom process,” he announced that he has referred the case to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to denounce these violations.

Widespread Outrage

The announcement of such a severe sentence request has sparked strong reactions among intellectuals and human rights advocates. Many voices in France and internationally have denounced judicial harassment and are calling for the writer’s immediate release.

As Algeria’s judiciary prepares to deliver its verdict on March 27, the case of Boualem Sansal continues to raise serious concerns about the state of freedom of expression in the country.