On the case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria
B-10-2025-0087
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Leoluca Orlando, Hannah Neumann, Catarina Vieira, Maria Ohisalo, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Ville Niinistö
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This resolution calls for the immediate and unconditional release and acquittal of Boualem Sansal and all others detained for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression in Algeria.¶ It expresses concern about repression of peaceful dissent, urges Algeria to uphold its international human rights commitments, and calls on EU institutions to raise individual cases and support human rights defenders.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls for the immediate and unconditional release and acquittal of Boualem Sansal and all other activists, journalists, human rights defenders and individuals detained or sentenced for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression, including Abdelwakil Blamm and Tadjadit Mohamed.¶
- Reiterates grave concern about the trend of increasing repression of peaceful dissent inside and outside Algeria, causing weakening or disappearance of critical civil society organizations and harassment of dissenting voices.¶
- Expresses solidarity with Algerians peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, advocating for democracy, civilian governance, popular sovereignty, the rule of law, social justice, and gender equality.¶
- Reminds Algeria of its commitments under ratified international human rights treaties, including the ICCPR, and highlights that these values are at the core of EU-Algeria relations as reflected in the Association Agreement.¶
- Urges Algerian authorities to end reprisals, intimidation, and interference by executive authorities against lawyers and judiciary members handling cases of individuals detained for exercising their rights.¶
- Welcomes the speech of HR/VP Borrell from 27 November 2024 calling for the release of Boualem Sansal and calls on all EU institutions and Member States to strongly and openly condemn the Algerian authorities’ crackdown on freedom of expression.¶
- Calls on the European Commission and EU Member States to increase efforts to raise all individual cases with Algerian authorities on bilateral, multilateral and EU levels and to increase support to human rights defenders, democracy activists and journalists.¶