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Solidarity for Boualem Sansal: Cultural heroes fight for freedom!
In Leipzig, cultural leaders expressed their solidarity with the imprisoned writer Boualem Sansal, whose conviction mobilized critics around the world.
Solidarity for Boualem Sansal: Cultural heroes fight for freedom!
On July 1, 2024, Boualem Sansal, a French-Algerian writer, was sentenced to five years in prison. An appeals court in Algiers upheld this verdict, which was made based on his critical opinions. Sansal was arrested in November 2024 for “attacking the unity of the state” and has since attracted the attention of international bodies. Loud MDR Important personalities are committed to his release. The Literaturhaus and the University of Leipzig organized a solidarity event on July 2, 2025 under the motto “Freedom for Boualem Sansal”.
At the event, numerous prominent representatives from culture, politics and science came together to support Sansal. Leipzig's mayor Burkhard Jung was present, as were around 20 other cultural actors who spoke out against the condemnation. Regina Keil-Sagawe, Sansal's German translator, praised his narrative richness, while Alfonso de Toro described him as "Voltaire of the 21st century." Martina Hefter and Jan Kuhlbrodt read from Sansal's essay “Postlagerd. Algiers”.
Political background and demands for release
Najem Wali, Vice President of PEN, discussed the political background of the imprisonment. In a video message, Daniel Kehlmann said: “As long as one of us is in prison, none of us are free.” In addition, other supporters such as the director Volker Schlöndorff and the actress Corinna Harfouch sent video messages. Musician Sebastian Krumbiegel also sent a musical message.
Sansal is considered an important writer and received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 2011. He was critical of political and religious developments in Algeria. His arrest is seen as a threat to freedom of expression in Algeria and as a political tool to suppress criticism. Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, chairwoman of the German Book Trade Association, called the prison sentence “an unacceptable attack on freedom of expression.”
Health status and hopes for a pardon
The health problems of Sansal, who is now 80 years old and suffering from cancer, have further fueled the discussion about his prison sentence. There is hope for a pardon on humanitarian grounds, especially in view of the Algerian national holiday on July 5th, which is traditionally an occasion for pardons. Thorsten Ahrend, director of the Leipzig Literature House, expressed the hope that the Algerian president could set such an example. Despite the confirmation of the sentence by the judiciary, supporters in the appeal process had hoped for a possible overturning of the verdict, especially since the sentence imposed was less than the ten years demanded by the public prosecutor's office, as European Parliament reported.