Concern in France over fate of prize-winning French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal

NEWS WIRES

22 November 2024 at 9:30 am·1-min read

French President Emmanuel Macron is "very concerned by the disappearance" of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, his office said. Known for his strong stance against both authoritarianism and Islamism, the 75-year-old writer was arrested on Saturday at Algiers airport after returning from France, according to several media reports.

Alarm grew in France on Friday over the fate of a prominent French-Algerian novelist detained in the country of his birth, with his publisher urging his immediate release and President Emmanuel Macron closely following the case.

Boualem Sansal, a major figure in francophone modern literature, is known for his strong stances against both authoritarianism and Islamism as well as being a forthright campaigner on freedom of expression issues.

His detention by Algeria comes against a background of tensions between France and its former colony which have also appear to have spread to the literary world.

The 75-year-old writer, granted French nationality this year, was on Saturday arrested at Algiers airport after returning from France, according to several media reports including the Marianne weekly.

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