Boualem Sansal, an Algerian French novelist, was sentenced to five years in prison by an Algerian court on Thursday, stirring outrage from the global literary community and prompting diplomatic tensions with France. The 80-year-old writer, who recently acquired French citizenship, was arrested in November for allegedly undermining national unity through comments made in a French media interview, where he expressed support for Morocco in its ongoing territorial conflict with Algeria.

His arrest sparked widespread protests and appeals for his release, notably from French President Emmanuel Macron, reflecting the historic and complex relationship between Algeria and its former colonial ruler, France. Sansal's legal representative, François Zimeray, lambasted the trial's proceedings, stating that the author did not have access to legal counsel and only faced a brief hearing. "The sentence is a grave injustice that undermines the essence of justice itself," Zimeray declared, emphasizing that the writer is innocent.

Currently detained in Kolea prison, near Algiers, Sansal is reported to be suffering from cancer, adding urgency to the calls for his release from supporters who view his imprisonment as a blatant attack on freedom of expression. Renowned authors and activists around the world are rallying in solidarity with Sansal, with hopes for a reconsideration of his case amidst escalating concerns for his health and well-being as he faces the harsh realities of prison life.