European Parliament Condemns Algerian Regime and Demands Immediate Release of Boualem Sansal
At the start of the new year, the European Parliament took a decisive stance by condemning the arrest of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal and calling for his immediate release. This condemnation, backed by an overwhelming majority, highlights growing European discontent with the Algerian regime’s violations of human rights and suppression of free expression.
A Strong Unified Statement
The resolution was supported by 533 Members of Parliament (MEPs) out of 605, with only 24 opposing. It was drafted by a coalition of political groups, excluding the “Left” group, and went beyond Sansal’s case to serve as a broader indictment of Algeria’s deteriorating human rights record.
The resolution highlighted the country’s restrictive 2024 amendments to its penal code, which have further curbed freedoms. It also noted Algeria’s ranking of 139th in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, along with reports of at least 215 political prisoners and a significant crackdown on independent media and dissent.
Concerns About Press Freedom and Political Prisoners
The European Parliament criticized Algeria’s alarming restrictions on freedom of expression and its imprisonment of hundreds of political activists and dissidents. According to the resolution, the country’s revised penal code has become a tool for silencing opposition, while independent media face increasing censorship and repression.
EU Aid and Conditionality
Despite this condemnation, the resolution acknowledged the lack of effective legal mechanisms to link European aid to Algeria’s respect for human rights. Reports indicate that the EU provided Algeria with €213 million between 2021 and 2024 through its multi-year cooperation program, without any tangible progress in civil liberties.
The resolution called for future European aid to Algeria to be conditional on measurable improvements in human rights. However, the final text avoided overly harsh language, opting instead for diplomatic phrasing such as “progress should be taken into account.”
Challenges to Enforcement
While the European Parliament’s stance is symbolically significant, it faces practical hurdles in implementing conditionality on Algeria. Bureaucratic inertia within the EU and a lack of unified enforcement tools make it difficult to hold the Algerian regime accountable.
A Test for European Resolve
The case of Boualem Sansal has become a litmus test for the EU’s willingness to move beyond symbolic gestures and take concrete action against regimes that persistently undermine freedoms. This situation highlights the challenge of balancing diplomatic engagement with a commitment to human rights, as the Algerian regime continues its relentless crackdown on dissent.
