What changed

B100092/2025

B100091/2025

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

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Algeria, including its latest of 11 May 2023,

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

A. whereas on 16 November 2024 Algerian authorities arrested French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal upon his arrival at Algiers airport, without giving a date to be presented before the public prosecutor; whereas his whereabouts remained unknown for over a week, during which he was denied access to his family and legal counsel, contrary to international law; whereas Boualem Sansal was subjected to interrogations in the absence of his lawyer, in violation of 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 Boualem Sansal has been hospitalised since mid-December;

A. whereas French-Algerian writer and vocal critic of the Algerian Government Boualem Sansal, 75 and seriously ill, has been arbitrarily detained by Algerian authorities since mid-November 2024 and hospitalised since mid-December;

B. whereas new Penal Code amendments adopted on 28 April 2024 have introduced significant restrictions on freedom of expression, which also include provisions that broaden criminal liability by targeting expressions that harm ‘the image of the security services and their agents’ failing to recognise the importance of free expression, especially in the context of public interest;

B. whereas freedom of expression has severely deteriorated, with Algeria falling to 139th in the 2024 Press Freedom Index; whereas journalists have been under rising pressure, often prosecuted and detained; whereas at least 215 people are detained in Algeria as prisoners of opinion according to Algerian human rights defenders; whereas broad dispositions in the penal code, notably article 87bis, have been used to quell freedom of speech under the pretext of fighting terrorism; as well as censorship notably by banning French-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud's recent book on political grounds;

C. whereas freedom of expression has deteriorated, with Algeria falling to 139th in the 2024 Press freedom Index; whereas censorship, trials and severe punishment of independent media, often accused of plotting with foreign powers against national security, continue to worsen;

C. whereas independent journalist Abdelwakil Blamm has been detained on bogus charges since December 29, 2024; whereas poet and human rights defender Tajadit Mohamed has also been detained since 16 January 2025; whereas journalist Ihsanne El Kadi was released in October 2024 after 22 months in prison;

D. whereas the EU has disbursed 213 million euros between 2021 and 2024 to Algeria under the Multiannual Indicative Program;

D. whereas, in the past years, rights and freedoms have persistently degraded beyond freedom of expression, including freedom of assembly and association, and the right to strike; whereas Algeria’s leading human rights organisation has been dissolved;

1. Condemns the arrestcalls andon detentionAlgerian ofauthorities Boualemto Sansalimmediately and calls for his immediate andunconditionally unconditionalrelease release,writer asBoualem wellSansal asand all other political prisonersthose ;arbitrarily urgesdetained thefor Algerianexpressing authoritiestheir toopinion, grantincluding themindependent adequatejournalist accessAbdelwakil toBlamm hisand familypoet and ahuman lawyerrights ofdefender hisTajadit choice;Mohamed; calls on the Algerian authorities to uphold Algeria’s international obligations to protectamend the right tosecurity-related freedomclauses of expression and to put a stop to the arrest andits detentionpenal ofcode, politicalincluding activists,articles journalists,95bis and human rights defenders, or anyone who expresses a dissenting196bis, viewto orprotect criticismfreedom of the governmentpress insideas andenshrined outsidein article 54 of Algeria’s borders;Constitution;

2. Calls on the authorities to amend the charges in the Penal Code used to criminalize the right to freedom of expression, including Articles 87bis, 95bis, 144, 146, 149bis 21 and 196bis, and to review Law No. 14-04 on Audio-visual Activity to bring it into conformity with international human rights standards according to the treaties and conventions Algeria has ratified;

2. condemns the continued detention of at least 215 prisoners of opinion for taking part in Algeria’s “Hirak” protest movement, or for sharing the hashtag “#Iamnotsatisfied” online or for publishing critical posts on social media;

3. Reiterates, as jointly agreed in the EU-Algeria Partnership Priorities, the importance of a pluralist press to consolidate the rule of law and fundamental freedoms such as 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 disbursement of EU funds should go hand in hand with progress made in this regard;

3. deplores the lack of independent, free media in Algeria; recalls the essential role played by a strong, independent and pluralist press within any democratic society; calls on Algerian authorities to allow foreign journalists to freely operate in Algeria;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the EU Delegation in Algiers, the Government of Algeria.

4. calls on Algerian authorities to accept and implement the recommendations of the UN periodic review, in particular the recommendation to reform its penal code to protect freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly; calls on authorities to abide by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Algeria has ratified;

5. calls on Algerian authorities to end intimidation and interference in the work of lawyers and members of the judiciary dealing with cases of persons detained for exercising their rights to freedom of association, expression, peaceful assembly and belief;

6. expresses its concern over the new political party reform which could end the multi-party system;

7. instructs its President to translate this resolution into Arabic and forward it to Algeria’s Parliament and Government.