Algerian court upholds writer's 5-year sentence in a case that’s strained ties with France

ALGIERS – A tribunal successful Algeria connected Tuesday upheld Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal's five-year situation condemnation successful a lawsuit that has raised alarm implicit state of look successful Algeria and pushed tensions with France to the brink.

Prosecutors astatine an entreaty proceeding past week requested the maximum punishment of 10 years successful prison. The “2084: The End of the World” writer was charged successful March nether Algeria’s anti-terrorism laws and convicted of “undermining nationalist unity,” receiving his archetypal five-year condemnation then.

Sansal's entreaty was intimately watched successful some France and Algeria. It caps a saga that has turned the novelist into a improbable origin célèbre, uniting francophone writers, members of France's acold close and European lawmakers successful a uncommon chorus demanding his release.

The contented arose past twelvemonth when, successful an interrogation with a French right-wing media outlet, Sansal questioned Algeria’s existent borders, arguing that France had redrawn them during the assemblage play to see lands that erstwhile belonged to Morocco. The 80-year-old dual national was arrested the pursuing period and aboriginal lambasted by the president successful a code to Algeria’s parliament.

The lawsuit has unfolded astatine a historical debased constituent successful Algeria's relations with France, which were strained further implicit the disputed Western Sahara.

The territorial quality has agelong helped signifier Algeria’s overseas policy, with its backing of the Polisario Front, a pro-independence radical that operates retired of exile camps successful southwestern Algeria. France past twelvemonth shifted its longstanding presumption to backmost Morocco’s sovereignty plan.

Analysts accidental that Sansal has go collateral harm successful the broader diplomatic fallout and picture the charges arsenic a governmental lever Algiers is deploying against Paris.

Sansal's supporters anticipation military-backed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune volition assistance a pardon connected Saturday, erstwhile Algeria marks Independence Day and traditionally frees selected prisoners arsenic portion of a nationalist amnesty.

The timing is dire, supporters warn, arsenic Sansal battles prostate crab and has spent portion of his detention successful a situation hospital.

The lawsuit has divided sentiment successful Algeria, wherever galore spot nary spot for writers successful prison, portion others presumption Sansal’s comments astir the country’s borders arsenic a provocation and an affront to their patriotism.

French officials person urged Algeria to merchandise him, with President Emmanuel Macron appealing straight to Tebboune to pardon Sansal during a March telephone call, citing the writer’s property and failing wellness arsenic crushed for mercy.

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