The Franco-Algerian writer, whose sentence of five years in prison was confirmed on Tuesday, did not receive the presidential pardon of Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
The news did not surprise its closest support. The name of the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal is not in the list of prisoners pardoned for the anniversary of independence on July 5. The novelist was sentenced on March 27 to five years’ imprisonment at first instance for “Involvement in national unity”a judgment confirmed Tuesday by the Algiers Court of Appeal.
“We are extremely disappointed, sad and landed but we are unfortunately surprised”breath Arnaud Benedetti, founder of the international support committee of Boualem Sansal, a few seconds after having read the decision. Imprisoned in Algeria for more than seven months and at the heart of a serious diplomatic scramble between Algeria and France, the 80 -year -old essayist, could have benefited from a “grace” The Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and thus bring back the tensions between the two countries.
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“We have been told for days and days that everything was going to be fine, but we had echoes that nothing was done”continues Arnaud Benedetti, who says “Not surprised” by this «situation». “We still hoped that grace would intervene. It had been subsequently subsequent for a few weeks. This is not the case ”, he adds.
“Strategy that leads us to failure failure”
The French government and diplomacy have been working for months to obtain the release of Boualem Sansal. François Bayrou said on Tuesday hoping “Grace measures” of Abdelmadjid Tebboune, while the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, who had defended a “Graduated response” With regard to Algeria in this case, said alongside the Prime Minister that he did not want “Get no chance, by especially the end of the week, so that Boualem Sansal can be released”. I just don’t.
“We must ask the question of the strategy of France vis-à-vis Algeria, pose Arnaud Benedetti. We cannot continue on a strategy that leads us to failure failure, and we can consider that there is a failure of the strategy implemented since November 7 (date of the arrest of Boualem Sansal, editor’s note). ” The founder of the Boualem Sansal International Support Committee wishes “A political decision” et “A change in political software in the processing of this file”.
The writer, suffering from prostate cancer, is “sick” et “age”recalls the one who is also editor -in -chief of the “Political and parliamentary review”. If it has not been pardoned this week, the scenario of a presidential grace decreed for medical reasons for Boualem Sansal is not to be ruled out in the coming weeks, or even next months. “I haven’t imagined anything for a few days, Tempère Arnaud Benedetti, associate professor at Paris-Sorbonne University. This is no imagination that must be shown, it is action. The line which has been for weeks to tell us that nothing should be said to make sure that Boualem Sansal was potentially released, did not work. You have to ask questions. “
