Algeria: European Parliament calls for immediate release of writer Boualem Sansal; more tough measures looming

The European Parliament has called on the Algerian regime to release immediately and unconditionally the 75-year-old novelist who was arrested at Algiers airport in November after saying, in an interview with a French TV channel, that western territories of today’s Algeria have been part of Morocco.

The literary figure is facing charges of terrorism and undermining national unity for saying historical truths about the colonial history of Algeria’s borders.

In a resolution adopted Thursday with an overwhelming majority of 533 votes in favor, 24 against and 48 abstentions, the MEPs urged the Algerian authorities to respect human rights and free, besides Boualem Sansal, journalist Abdelwakil Blamm, writer Tadjadit Mohamed, and all other activists, journalists, human rights defenders and people detained for exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression in Algeria.

“The authorities must review all repressive laws restricting freedoms and the judiciary’s independence, in order to protect the freedom of the press as enshrined in Article 54 of Algeria’s Constitution”, said the MEPs in their resolution.

They also denounced the human rights violations in Algeria and affirmed that a renewal of the EU-Algeria Partnership Priorities hinges on Algeria’s continued and substantial progress on respect for the rule of law.

Members of the European Parliament said any future disbursements of EU funds to Algeria will depend on freedom of expression and democratic progress in this country, which risks serious sanctions if it continues escalating repression targeting human rights militants, political opponents, journalists, and intellectuals.