(NEW YORK)—In response to the verdict delivered by the Algerian Criminal Court in Dar El-Beida, which sentenced acclaimed French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal to five years in prison and a 500,000 DZD fine (3,700 USD), PEN America issued the following statement:
“The sentence handed down to writer Boualem Sansal is an outright injustice and an affront to free expression,” said Karin Karlekar, Director of Writers at Risk at PEN America. “At 80 years old and in declining health, imprisoning him for peacefully expressing his views is not only an abuse of power but a flagrant violation of his basic human rights.
“We strongly condemn this harsh sentence and demand his immediate and unconditional release. No writer, regardless of age or health, should ever be subjected to such repercussions for their free expression.”
Read our previous statements on Boualem Sansal for more:
- PEN America Demands Release of Franco-Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal
- Writer Boualem Sansal Begins Hunger Strike
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.