The Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. (Credit: Joel Saget/AFP)
Daniel Pennac, Laure Adler, Roberto Saviano, Marie Ndiaye, Erik Orsenna, Catherine Cusset, Pierre Assouline, Kamel Daoud, Karina Sainz Borgo, Catherine Cusset, Pascal Bruckner, Camille Laurens, Paule Constant, Erri de Luca and many other renowned authors responded to the invitation from Jack Lang and Antoine Gallimard. The two presidents, of the Arab World Institute and Gallimard publishing respectively, wished to organize an exceptional evening to discuss the situation of Boualem Sansal and his work. Hosted by François Busnel, the event at the IMA this Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Paris time, invited various authors to speak around a quote from Camus, "Without freedom, no art; art lives only from the constraints it imposes on itself, it dies from others." (Actuelles, IV). The evening will be punctuated by readings, musical interludes, and the broadcast of previously unseen archival footage.
The French-Algerian author, 75, critical of the Algerian government, has been detained since Nov. 16. He is said to have been apprehended at Algiers airport upon returning from France. He is being prosecuted under an article of the Algerian penal code that sanctions "as a terrorist or subversive act any act aimed at the state's security, the national territory's integrity, the stability, and the normal functioning of the institutions."
With a vibrant voice, Lang immediately dispelled any possible misunderstanding.
"I do not want to politicize our initiative in favor of Boualem Sansal, it is not aimed at questioning any government or any official. Gallimard and I wanted to bring together writers who cared to express their friendship, affection, support, and admiration for another writer now deprived of freedom, beyond any political or diplomatic issue," explained the former minister.
In many respects, the topic was particularly close to his heart.
"I am personally connected to Algeria and the Algerian people. I came to civic consciousness at the time of the Algerian war, I fought colonialism, and I rejoiced in the country’s independence. I have forged links with many writers, filmmakers, and cultural figures from this country. I love Algeria, I love these people. I wish they could grow by giving freedom to Boualem Sansal," he said. "Three years ago, we presented contemporary Algerian painters, and soon, a week will be dedicated to traditional Algerian music. Soon, a grand exhibition will bring together the great painter Benanteur and Claude Monet. We are in complete harmony with the Algerian people, the struggles they have fought, their culture, their sensitivity. We do not want in any way for this evening’s gathering to affect the bonds between the two peoples, between the intellectuals and creators of the two nations."
Karina Housin, editorial director at Gallimard since 2019, said that since Sansal's incarceration, news of him has been both regular and worrying.
"We have some information from his relatives, but unfortunately no judicial calendar has been communicated yet, which is very distressing. He is at a certain age, he is ill, and he is between the hospital and Kolea prison, a few kilometers from Algiers," she stated.
"We hope to be more informed in the coming days. What we wish today is to carry out an act of cultural, intellectual, and human solidarity around a great writer who is currently prevented from expressing himself," the president of the IMA said passionately.
'The power of the word'
Sansal has been published by Gallimard since his very first book, The Oath of the Barbarians (1999).
"The entire publishing house is heartbroken. Sansal is undoubtedly one of the writers with whom we have the closest ties, he was housed with us on Rue de l'Université. He is a very likable man, appreciated by all, from the young women at reception to the different departments; he felt at home at Gallimard," stated Hosin. Some have highlighted the lack of responsiveness from the French state in response to the incarceration of the Franco-Algerian author. "The French-Algerian relationship seemed particularly degraded at that time, but France quickly mobilized. Our publishing house acts through its writers, who have shown unanimous solidarity. It is also very active with foreign publishers we work with," emphasizing the remarkable awareness work that has been accomplished.
"We fight with our weapons, those of culture, freedom of expression, creation, and it has no borders. Our German publisher partners were the first to organize events, to meet with politicians and attempt mediations. On March 7, a significant support event for Sansal is scheduled in Berlin, and another will take place at the end of March in Brussels," she added.
What can be the impact of an event like tonight's?
"We act with the weapons we have, words, literature, can do a lot. Boualem's imprisonment also speaks to the power of the word. Sometimes words are so strong they lead men to prison. We hope this moment among writers will open some windows if not the prison door for the writer," said the secretary general while finalizing the last details of an evening full of stakes, sadness and emotion.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
