What changed

B100089/2025

P10_TA(2025)0005

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the caseCase of Boualem Sansal in Algeria

(2025/2512(RSP))

PE769.109

European Parliament resolution of 23 January 2025 on the case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria (2025/2512(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Algeria,

– having regard to the EU-Algeria AssociationRules Agreement150(5) and to136(4) theof EU-Algeriaits partnershipRules priorities,of Procedure,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),

A. whereas on 16 November 2024 the Algerian authorities arrested French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who had publicly taken a robust stance against the authoritarian regime, calling for freedom of expression in Algeria; whereas his whereabouts remained unknown for over a week, during which time he was denied access to his family and legal counsel, contrary to international law; whereas Sansal was interrogated without his lawyer, violating his right to a fair trial; whereas he was subsequently charged with national security-related offences under Article 87bis of the Algerian Penal Code, a provision frequently used against government critics, including human rights defenders; whereas Sansal has been hospitalised several times;

– having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

B. whereas Algeria is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; whereas Algeria has undertaken to respect and promote freedom of expression in full compliance with its international obligations, the EU-Algeria partnership priorities, and its Constitution; whereas new amendments to the Penal Code were adopted in 2024 imposing significant restrictions on freedom of expression;

A. whereas Boualem Sansal, a French-Algerian author, publicly took robust stances against authoritarianism and in favour of the freedom of expression in Algeria; whereas he was taken into custody in Algiers since 16 November 2024 on charges of undermining the integrity of the national territory; whereas this charge is considered as an act of terrorism under article 87 bis of the Algerian penal code; whereas he faces life imprisonment if found guilty of these charges;

C. whereas freedom of expression in Algeria has deteriorated, with the country falling to 139th place on the 2024 World Press Freedom Index; whereas journalists have been placed under increasing pressure and are often detained and prosecuted; whereas at least 215 people are being held in Algeria as prisoners of opinion, according to Algerian human rights defenders; whereas censorship, trials and harsh punishment of independent media, often accused of colluding with foreign powers against national security, continue to increase;

B. whereas Algeria is a Party to the UDHR; whereas Algeria is a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the period 2023-2025; whereas Algeria committed respecting and promoting the freedom of expression in full compliance with its international obligations and its Constitution; whereas Algeria modified in 2024 provisions of its penal code with the aim to further restrict the freedom of expression;

D. whereas between 2021 and 2024 the EU disbursed EUR 213 million to Algeria under the Multiannual Indicative Programme;

C. whereas since the 2019 Hirak protests, Algeria’s authorities have substantially clamped down on freedom of expression and media freedom; whereas Algerian Human Rights activists, defenders and journalists are imprisoned for exercising their rights;

1. Condemns the arrest and detention of Boualem Sansal and calls for his immediate and unconditional release;

1.2. CallsEqually oncondemns Algerianthe authoritiesarrests toof immediatelyall andother unconditionallyactivists, releasepolitical Boualemprisoners, Sansaljournalists, andhuman allrights thosedefenders and others detained andor chargedsentenced for exercising their rightsright to freedom of expressionopinion orand opinion,expression, including journalist Abdelwakil Blamm and writer Tadjadit Mohamed;Mohamed, and calls for their release;

2. Calls on the Algerian authorities to close the case and drop the charges against Boualem Sansal and the Algerian journalists, including Abdelwakil Blamm, human rights defenders and peaceful activists facing threat, judicial harassment and prosecution for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and media freedoms;

3. Urges the EU institutions and the EU Delegation to publicly share their concerns with the Algerian authorities, and to organise a medical mission to assess Sansal’s health;

3.4. ExpressesCalls itson concernsthe aboutAlgerian theauthorities trendto ofreview increasingall repressionrepressive oflaws peacefulrestricting dissentfreedoms, in Algeria;particular reiteratesArticles its87bis, calls95bis toand the196bis Algerianof authoritiesAlgeria’s toPenal respectCode, and upholdthe fundamentaljudiciary’s freedoms,independence, includingin order to protect the freedom of expression andthe opinionpress as enshrined in Article 4154 of Algeria’s Constitution and in full compliance with the UDHR and the ICCPR that Algeria ratified;Constitution;

4. Urges the Algerian authorities to review all repressive laws aiming at restricting the freedoms, in particular the Article 87bis of Algeria’s Penal Code, and the judiciary’s independence;

5. Reiterates, as enshrined in the EU-Algeria Partnership Priorities, the importance of the rule of law in order to consolidate freedom of expression; stresses that renewing this agreement must be based upon continued and substantial progress in the aforementioned domains and underscores that all future disbursements of EU funds should consider the progress made in this regard;

5. Calls on the Algerian authorities to guarantee to the civil society organisations the freedom to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without undue restriction and fear of reprisal;

6. Instructs its President to have this resolution translated into Arabic and forwarded to the Algerian Authorities, the Commission and the VP/HR.

6. Urge the EU Institutions and the EU Delegation to publicly share their concerns and raise the case of Boualem Sansal and all those arbitrarily detained with the Algerian authorities; urges the EU Institutions to increase their support to human rights defenders, democracy activists and journalists;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Algerian Authorities, the Commission, the VP/HR and the Member States.