French President Macron asks Algeria to set free an elderly writer. The Algerian court just gave Boualem Sansal a five-year jail term. Officials claim he hurt the country by questioning its borders.
Sansal landed in jail last year because he told French media that France gave Algeria more land than it should have during colonial times. He also said Western Sahara really belongs to Morocco. During his time behind bars, the 80-year-old author became sick and needed hospital care.
Many famous people want him released. Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka, British author Salman Rushdie, and French officials all back him. A Paris area mayor plans to hand out Sansal books to every teenager turning 18 in his town. He believes Algeria attacked free speech by jailing the writer.
Macron stated at a press conference that he wants Algerian leaders to make a kind decision. He hopes they will free Sansal and let him get medical help. Earlier this year, Macron warned that keeping Sansal locked up hurts trust between the countries.
The writer has become a chess piece in a bigger game between France and Algeria. His supporters say he never meant to be part of this fight. Algeria fought hard to break free from French rule, finally winning freedom in 1962.
The two nations have struggled with bad feelings for years. Things got worse when France sided with Morocco about who should control Western Sahara. Algeria supports a group called Polisario that fights for that land to be free. Algeria pulled its ambassador from Paris after that.
Three years before, Algeria had cut all ties with Morocco. After the court decision this week, the writer's lawyer begged President Tebboune to show mercy. Sansal speaks out against Islamic extremism and often criticizes the Algerian government.
His critics call him a favorite of right-wing groups who play into their fears. Far-right French leader Marine Le Pen praised him as someone who fights for freedom against Islamism. Media reports listed his age as 75, but his publisher says he is actually 80.
Sansal wrote a famous book called 2084 that makes fun of religious extremism. It won a major French award ten years ago. His next book comes out in May. The story follows people chosen to start life on a new planet as Earth faces destruction.
Sansal landed in jail last year because he told French media that France gave Algeria more land than it should have during colonial times. He also said Western Sahara really belongs to Morocco. During his time behind bars, the 80-year-old author became sick and needed hospital care.
Many famous people want him released. Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka, British author Salman Rushdie, and French officials all back him. A Paris area mayor plans to hand out Sansal books to every teenager turning 18 in his town. He believes Algeria attacked free speech by jailing the writer.
Macron stated at a press conference that he wants Algerian leaders to make a kind decision. He hopes they will free Sansal and let him get medical help. Earlier this year, Macron warned that keeping Sansal locked up hurts trust between the countries.
The writer has become a chess piece in a bigger game between France and Algeria. His supporters say he never meant to be part of this fight. Algeria fought hard to break free from French rule, finally winning freedom in 1962.
The two nations have struggled with bad feelings for years. Things got worse when France sided with Morocco about who should control Western Sahara. Algeria supports a group called Polisario that fights for that land to be free. Algeria pulled its ambassador from Paris after that.
Three years before, Algeria had cut all ties with Morocco. After the court decision this week, the writer's lawyer begged President Tebboune to show mercy. Sansal speaks out against Islamic extremism and often criticizes the Algerian government.
His critics call him a favorite of right-wing groups who play into their fears. Far-right French leader Marine Le Pen praised him as someone who fights for freedom against Islamism. Media reports listed his age as 75, but his publisher says he is actually 80.
Sansal wrote a famous book called 2084 that makes fun of religious extremism. It won a major French award ten years ago. His next book comes out in May. The story follows people chosen to start life on a new planet as Earth faces destruction.
