“Diplomacy needs discretion”said Tuesday, regarding the arrest in Algeria of the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, the Minister Delegate in charge of French people abroad Sophie Primas. This member of the government was questioned in the National Assembly, by deputy Guillaume Bigot (National Rally), on the possibility of sanctioning Algerian leaders.
She replied that she could not give details on France’s action. “At this stage, I cannot tell you any more. Because yes, diplomacy needs discretion to act, and not to remain silent”she said. “We share the great emotion of the literary world, the intellectual world and, beyond, many French and Algerians who know and appreciate the man and his work”recalled the Minister Delegate. “State services are fully mobilized to monitor the situation of our compatriot and enable him to benefit from the consular protection provided for by law”underlined Sophie Primas.
Arrested in mid-November in Algiers
Questioned on the same theme by another deputy, the Ciottist Matthieu Bloch, she gave a similar response: “I cannot say more, as I have already stated. But know that we are all mobilized for the release of this defender of freedom of speech.
Boualem Sansal, a 75-year-old writer who has criticized Algerian leaders on numerous occasions, was arrested in mid-November as he arrived in his native country from France. The Algerian government agency APS confirmed on Friday, without specifying the date or for what reasons, “the arrest” at the Algiers airport of the author of 2084: the end of the world. According to several media, it took place on November 16.
His lawyer François Zimeray initially assured RTL that he was to be interviewed by the Algerian public prosecutor’s office on Monday, November 25. But this hearing did not take place. According to The World, the Algerian authorities could have taken the statements of Boualem Sansal to the French media badly Bordersreputed to be far-right, which take up the Moroccan position according to which the country’s territory was truncated under French colonization for the benefit of Algeria. It would be a “red line” for Algiers which could result in the author being accused of“attack on national integrity”.
Source: www.liberation.fr
