Sansal, the last victim of the war between Algeria and Morocco

“Surrender is infinitely more delicious when we recognize the possibility of liberation.”But this is also why rebellion is a way of life. There is much to lose, life and heaven, and nothing to gain. He writes, “Freedom in the desert or in the grave is another prison.” Boualem Sansal In his most famous and controversial work, 2084. end of the worldA modification of George Orwell’s novel as the story of Abistan, a world ruled by a single God.

Algerian writer Sansal, who recently obtained French nationality, has been detained in Algeria for more than a weekHe was arrested upon landing in Algiers on 16 November and no charges have been filed against him so far. Nor has his case been officially reported. Algerian public television says he faces “strong charges”. In a report released this Monday, he is presented as “an agent with the title of author, who has educated neither morality nor culture.” “But the Algerian Penal Code stands above all others. “This is a state law that considers any attack against its entity a crime and terrorist act,” the network alleges.

Born in Algeria in 1949, Sansal earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from the National Polytechnic School of Algeria and the National Higher School of Telecommunications in Paris, and a doctorate in economics. Between 1995 and 2003 he was an official in the Algerian Ministry of Industry. Since then he devoted himself to literature. His first novel, oath of the barbarians (1999) received critical support. after german village (2008), censored in Algeria, was its greatest success. 2084. end of the worldable Grand Prix of the French Academy 2015 and finalist for the most prestigious awards in French literature: the Goncourt Prize, the Médicis Prize, the Femina Prize, the Renaudot Prize and the Interli Prize.

What has particularly troubled his homeland are statements the author has made to the far-right French media. In October Sansal raised questions about Algeria’s history and borders in a country that recently celebrated 70 years since the start of its independence struggle and the end of French rule. In an interview with a far-right media outlet FrontiersSansal said that all of western Algeria historically belonged to Morocco and that it was colonialism that created the current borders between the two countries, “arbitrarily” ceding that territory to Algeria.

He is in the headlines for his statements

Sansal, very critical of Islam and close to French far-right principles regarding the risk of “Islamization” of France, has also defended Israel and its fight against anti-Semitism and Morocco’s support in the Western Sahara conflict. Have done. Algerian television, which has become the mouthpiece of the Algerian regime, describes the author as an “agent of Moroccan origin” – his father was Moroccan – who “hides behind literature to serve a dirty agenda” and remembers His father “fled the country because of the injustices of Mazen of Morocco and settled in Algeria, which welcomed him.”

In an editorial titled “Sansal, puppet of Algerian anti-revisionism”Algerian state news agency aps Having received support from politicians such as Eric Zemmour, he called him a “pseudo-intellectual respected by the French extreme right”. He said, “The ridiculous agitation of a part of the French political and intellectual class over the Boulem Sansal case is evidence of the existence of a current of ‘hate’ against Algeria. A pressure group that never misses a chance to question Algerian sovereignty.” ,

Rivers of ink flowed from his arrest in France. The French executive admitted this Tuesday that it was taking “prudent” action to secure their release. The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Reteleau, in a radio interview france informationhas indicated that “the important thing is not to shout, what matters is to achieve results.” Elysee admitted this last week Macron was “very concerned about the disappearance” of Sansal. and insisted on protecting “the freedom of a great writer and intellectual”.

Situated at the center of the territorial dispute between Morocco and Algeria over its hegemony in the Maghreb, the Sansal affair also touched upon France’s difficulties in exercising any mediation following the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, Macron’s state visit to Rabat and diplomatic Shows. A crisis arose with Algeria.

Pending the official presentation of charges, Algerian establishment figures have begun to break their silence. For Abdelaziz Rahabi, former minister of culture and former Algerian ambassador to Madrid, “Boulem Sansal rehabilitates the colonial narrative and its historical lies and does not appreciate to what extent this is a disrespect to the national spirit.” “He also knows that his arrest will benefit him and damage Algeria’s image abroad,” he concluded.