Watan-A French court ruled on Thursday in favor of Algerian influencer Naaman Boualem, known as “Dolamen,” canceling an order that required his immediate departure from France after his case previously triggered tensions between Algeria and Paris.
Legal Battle Over Deportation
Authorities arrested Dolamen (59 years old) on January 5 in Montpellier, southern France, placing him in custody after he appeared in a video making comments about an Algerian opposition figure. Initially, French authorities classified his remarks as an incitement to murder.
On Thursday, the Administrative Court of Melun, near Paris, held an emergency hearing and canceled the expulsion orders issued by the prefect of Hérault in southern France.
The court ruled that the French authorities must re-examine Dolamen’s case within three months and grant him a temporary residence permit during this period.
However, sources close to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau told AFP that the ministry plans to appeal the ruling and continue deportation procedures.
Retailleau stated on LCE TV on Thursday evening:”There are legal loopholes that need to be addressed. We currently have regulations that do not sufficiently protect French society.”
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin also commented, saying:”If the law needs to be amended once again to ensure that the Republic and the state do not appear powerless but can expel all irregular foreign nationals, then it must be changed.”
Ongoing Crises Between Algeria and France
Tensions between Algeria and France have escalated in recent months due to France’s stance on Western Sahara and the detention of Algerian-French writer Boualem Sansal in since mid-November 2024.
The situation worsened after Dolamen was deported to Algeria on January 9, but Algeria refused to accept him and sent him back to France on the same day.
French Interior Minister Retailleau previously described Algeria’s move as an attempt to “humiliate France,” but Algeria denied seeking escalation or provocation.
In a previous statement, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry defended Dolamen’s right to remain in France, stating:
- He has lived in France for 36 years.
- He has held a French residence permit for 15 years.
- He is the father of two children from his marriage to a French citizen.
- He is socially integrated, having held a stable job for 15 years.
The Algerian ministry argued that these factors grant him undeniable rights, which he would have been denied the opportunity to defend in French and European courts due to the hasty and controversial deportation order.
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