Algeria Denies Visa to Lawyer of Jailed Author Boualem Sansal, Sparking International Outcry
The Algerian government has denied entry to François Zimeray, the lawyer representing imprisoned Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, raising serious concerns about due process and freedom of speech. Sansal, 80, is a renowned novelist and essayist known for his critical perspectives on Algerian society and politics. He was arrested and imprisoned on charges of “attacking state security” under Article 87 bis of the Algerian penal code, a broadly defined law often used to silence dissent. This denial of access to legal counsel adds another layer to the growing international concern surrounding Sansal’s case.
Zimeray, commissioned by Sansal’s French publisher Gallimard, was scheduled to travel to Algiers to assist in Sansal’s defense alongside his Algerian wife. The Algerian appeals court is set to rule on Sansal’s release request on Wednesday, December 11th, making Zimeray’s presence crucial. The lawyer expressed his dismay in a statement, emphasizing that the visa refusal “impedes the exercise of the rights of the defense as enshrined in international treaties ratified by Algeria, without which there can be no fair trial.” This sentiment was echoed by Pierre Hoffman, the head of the Paris Bar Association, who declared the situation “unacceptable” on X (formerly Twitter), stating that “the rights of the defense are not variable.”
The 1962 agreements between France and Algeria allow for reciprocal legal practice in both countries. Zimeray had applied for a visa with a supporting invitation from his Algerian colleagues, further highlighting the seemingly deliberate nature of the denial. This action raises questions about Algeria’s commitment to international legal norms and the principles of a fair trial. Similar cases of governments restricting access to legal representation have been widely condemned by international human rights organizations, often citing violations of Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to a fair trial and adequate legal assistance.
Sansal’s arrest and imprisonment have sparked widespread support from political and literary figures globally. He is currently being held in El-Harrach prison, approximately 35 kilometers from Algiers, after being transferred there without timely notification to his legal team. Zimeray criticized this lack of transparency, adding to the concerns about the handling of Sansal’s case. Gallimard reported that Sansal is also under medical supervision, though the details of his health condition remain unclear. This lack of transparency fuels further speculation and anxiety about his well-being.
This incident comes at a time of increased scrutiny of freedom of expression in Algeria. According to Reporters Without Borders’ 2023 World Press Freedom Index, Algeria ranks 136 out of 180 countries, indicating significant challenges to press freedom and, by extension, freedom of expression more broadly. The arrest and subsequent denial of legal access for Boualem Sansal underscore these concerns and raise questions about the Algerian government’s commitment to upholding fundamental human rights. The international community will be closely watching the developments in Sansal’s case, hoping for a just and transparent legal process. The denial of his lawyer’s visa sets a worrying precedent and highlights the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression in the region.
