(NEW YORK)— In response to news that detained Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal is on a hunger strike to protest his wrongful imprisonment, PEN America called on Algerian authorities today to release him immediately and ensure he receives the legal representation and fair trial he deserves.
The 75-year-old Sansal has been unjustly detained in Algeria since last November and has already suffered from health complications during his detention, according to media reports; his hunger strike adds to grave concerns for his well being.
“Writers like Boualem Sansal do not belong behind bars. Algeria must honor its international obligations, uphold his human rights, and the rights of all detained writers in the country,” said Karin Karlekar, director, Writers at Risk at PEN America.
Late last year, Sansal’s French lawyer, François Zimeray, was denied a visa to Algeria, and Sansal was reportedly pressured to select a different legal representative. These actions undermine his basic rights to a fair defense. Algeria has an obligation under international law to ensure a fair trial and proper legal representation for Sansal and all detained writers.
Sansal trained as an engineer with a doctorate in economics; he began writing novels at age 50 after retiring as a high-ranking official in the Algerian government. The assassination of President Boudiaf in 1992 and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Algeria inspired him to write about his country.
Le Village de l’allemand is the first of Sansal’s novels to be translated into English; it was published in the US as The German Mujahid.
For more background on his case, read our previous statement.