French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal is on trial in Algeria for allegedly undermining national unity. Prosecutors demand a 10-year sentence,

Watan-In a surprising development, the French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has been referred to the misdemeanors court in Algiers, nearly five months after being placed in temporary detention, on charges related to undermining national unity and several other accusations. These charges stem from his statements in which he attributed part of Algerian territory to Morocco. The court is expected to issue its verdict on March 27.

According to the Algerian newspaper Echorouk, the public prosecutor at the Dar El Beida misdemeanors court in the capital has requested a sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of one million Algerian dinars against Sansal. The charges include undermining national unity, insulting a regulatory body, engaging in practices harmful to the national economy, and possessing videos and publications that threaten national security and stability.

The same source reported that Sansal appeared before the misdemeanors judge this morning to answer questions regarding the charges against him. His case was scheduled as part of the regular docket of cases involving violations of public law by detained defendants, and the trial session proceeded normally without any exceptional measures.

The prosecution based the charges on media statements and digital content found on his personal devices, including his mobile phone, computer, and flash drives. These materials were said to contain content deemed offensive to Algeria’s constitutional, civil, and military institutions.

According to the newspaper, Sansal appeared to be in good health, contrary to concerns raised by his French lawyer, who had repeatedly expressed fears for his client’s life. The writer defended himself in court without appointing any legal representation, insisting that his statements were merely expressions of opinion, as any Algerian citizen has the right to make. He also claimed that he was unaware that some of his remarks could be interpreted as undermining national institutions.

Sansal’s trial comes at a time of heightened tensions between Algeria and France, with this case being one of the contributing factors. The court’s verdict is expected to have significant implications—either de-escalation if he receives a lenient sentence or is released, or further escalation if the court aligns with the prosecution’s demand for a 10-year prison term.

Prior to Sansal’s trial, controversy erupted following reports that Algerian authorities had refused to grant a visa to his lawyer due to his Jewish origins. The French magazine Marianne claimed that officials had suggested Sansal replace his Jewish lawyer with a “non-Jewish” one. The lawyer, François Zemri, is known for his pro-Zionist views and has repeatedly defended Israeli war criminals following the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against them, echoing right-wing French propaganda.

The head of the Algiers Bar Association, Mohamed Baghdadi, responded to these claims, stating that Sansal had personally decided to dismiss all his lawyers, including François Zemri. In an interview with the French-language newspaper El Watan, Baghdadi clarified that Sansal had informed the investigating judge of his intention to defend himself without legal representation. He emphasized that this decision was made by the writer himself and was not the result of any external pressure or interference.

Baghdadi also expressed surprise at Zemri’s statements, noting that the lawyer continued to present himself as Sansal’s representative despite the latter having sent an official letter to the judge a week earlier, explicitly canceling all legal representation, including Zemri.

On November 16, 2024, Boualem Sansal was arrested on charges related to “undermining state security” after making statements on a far-right channel questioning Algeria’s right to its current borders. He was placed in pretrial detention under Article 87 bis of the Algerian Penal Code, which penalizes “acts that threaten state security” and categorizes them as “terrorist activities.”

This case has further deepened the diplomatic crisis between Algeria and France. Tensions escalated after French President Emmanuel Macron stated that “it does not honor Algeria to imprison a writer,” provoking strong reactions in Algeria. In response, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune dismissed Sansal as an “unknown figure” and a “thief” who claims that half of Algeria belongs to another country.

Sansal, who held a high-ranking government position in Algeria in the early 2000s (as Director of Industry), is known for his controversial views, which some consider as bordering on “treason.” He has previously labeled Algerian revolutionary icons as “terrorists” and has embraced extreme positions on Islam under the pretext of combating Islamism. The writer is also a staunch supporter of Israel, frequently visiting the country. His pro-Israel stance became even more evident after the October 7, 2023, Al-Aqsa Flood operation, as reflected in his writings and repeated public statements.