Latest news with #Franco-Algerian
El Chorouk
18 hours ago
- Politics
- El Chorouk
President Boumediene's Widow Combating Hate Speech in France
Anissa Boumediene, the widow of the late President Houari Boumediene, is being subjected to a racist smear campaign in France for expressing her position on the imprisonment of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who is accused of targeting Algeria's territorial integrity. This was stated in press releases made to a far-right platform. The widow of the late President Boumediene was asked if she supported those calling for the release of writer Boualem Sansal, including Yasmina Khadra. She expressed her categorical refusal to release him, responding firmly, 'No, not at all.' Although the media outlet that interviewed her, Africa Radio, is unknown, this statement sparked a fierce campaign against the former first lady of Algeria. Anissa Boumediene justified her firm stance by saying, 'For me, Boualem Sansal doesn't like Algeria.' She added, denouncingly, 'Boualem Sansal said that Tlemcen and other cities are not Algerian… For me, that's very serious,' before addressing her interviewer, 'Imagine if the people of Nice (a city in southeastern France) or the Corsicans (named after the island of Corsica) said they would have preferred to remain with the Italians rather than the French.' The former first lady's stance came less than a week before the Algiers Judicial Council issued its ruling in the appeals hearing in the case of the Franco-Algerian writer. This decision caused panic among those who supported and demanded Sansal's release in France. This is because the position of a figure working in the field of law (Anissa holds a law degree from the Sorbonne University in Paris), as well as being an icon in the Algerian society as the widow of a national president beloved by Algerians, the late Houari Boumediene, could impact the case of the imprisoned writer in the eyes of those who attack her. Therefore, these French circles quickly emerged from their dens, harshly criticising Anissa. What's striking is that those launching this attack claim to defend freedom of expression, led by the Goncourt Prize winner and fugitive from Algerian justice, Kamel Daoud, who posted on X, 'I was asked if I supported the release of Boualem Sansal. She replied: 'Absolutely not. She lives in France, the country where she enjoys freedom.' Kamel Daoud followed this with a series of tweets supporting the Franco-Algerian writer, one of which read: 'If you want to help yourself, defend your freedoms, believe without kneeling, dream without sleeping, listen without prejudice, and travel with the mere movement of your index finger across the page, read Sansal.' Despite the undeclared truce in the French media toward Algeria, hoping to de-escalate tensions and pave the way for a pardon for the Franco-Algerian writer, media outlets known for their right-wing leanings have not failed to target the widow of the late president, such as Le Journal du Dimanche and Valeurs Actuelles. The Journal du Dimanche headlined its article on Anissa Boumediene as follows: 'She lives in France and is free: Algeria's former first lady's opinion on Boualem Sansal sparks controversy.' In it, it paused on what Anissa Boumediene had said, writing: 'The former first lady of Algeria and lawyer does not call for the release of the writer Boualem Sansal, who has been detained in Algerian prisons since November. She believes that his dangerous statements threaten the country's unity and justify his fate'. Meanwhile, the other newspaper, Valeurs Actuelles, titled its provocative article against Anissa Boumediene: 'His statements are very serious: Algeria's former first lady does not want the release of Boualem Sansal.' The article commented: 'After several months without mentioning the case of Boualem Sansal, the Franco-Algerian writer imprisoned since November 2024 in Algeria, Anissa Boumediene confirmed that she does not want the release of the writer, whose case is a symbol of tensions between Paris and Algiers.' In contrast, Anissa Boumediene found her defender in France, represented by the locally elected Salim Djellab, of Algerian origins, who responded to Kamel Daoud in a tweet: 'Mentioning that Anissa Boumediene 'lives in France' amounts to publicly exposing her, while also insinuating a dissident who must be punished. However, under international law, each state is sovereign in the exercise of its justice. If Boualem Sansal was convicted under Algerian criminal law, one can appeal for a measure of clemency (presidential pardon), but certainly not challenge the jurisdiction of a third state.
El Chorouk
2 days ago
- Politics
- El Chorouk
How Did Paris Transform a Dead Draft Resolution Into a Message of Appeasement?
Less than a week before the Algiers Judicial Council issued its final decision in the case of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, the French side sent flirtatious messages to the Algerian authorities, in line with the appeasement language adopted by French President Emmanuel Macron, who avoided provocative positions. In a surprising move, the French National Assembly withdrew a draft resolution to abolish the 1968 immigration agreement between Algeria and France. The resolution was proposed by the parliamentary group of a small right-wing party led by Eric Ciotti, leader of Les Républicains (The Republicans), who was expelled from the party following his surprise alliance with the far-right, led by Marine Le Pen, in the recent legislative elections. The draft resolution was scheduled to be discussed last Thursday, but it was suddenly announced that it had been withdrawn under mysterious circumstances. This appeared to be a token of appeasement to the Algerian side, as the French feared an escalation that would not serve their interests in Algeria. Does this parliamentary action amount to a valid initiative to de-escalate tensions between the two countries? The parliamentary group that submitted the draft resolution has only 16 members and belongs to a fledgling party, the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR), which is less than a year old, and was founded by Eric Ciotti after he was ousted last summer from the leadership of the right-wing Republicans party. The current Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, became its leader in May. This party is considered very close to the far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and her assistant Jordan Bardella. It ranked third in the recent legislative elections, behind the left-wing movement, or the New National Front, which won a parliamentary majority, and Macron's Renaissance, which ranked second. This means that the gamble of Eric Ciotti's group, which pushed for this project, remains a losing one from the start, even if the far right supports it, given the level of representation in the lower house of parliament. The draft resolution claims that the 1968 agreement grants Algerians exceptional privileges, unlike other members of the Maghreb and African communities, in the areas of housing, residence, education, and the practice of liberal professions. The draft resolution states that 'it is time to adapt our legal arsenal regarding immigration to the development of our relationship with Algeria,' and calls for 'the restoration of the state's legal means to limit the granting of visas to Algerians, and to suspend them when necessary.' This draft was preceded by similar initiatives targeting the 1968 migration agreement between Algeria and France, but they failed due to a lack of the required votes. This indicates that the Eric Ciotti Group's draft resolution was not intended to overturn this long-standing agreement, but rather to pursue political and diplomatic objectives through its introduction and subsequent withdrawal. French President Emmanuel Macron has previously intervened on more than one occasion to confirm that he does not intend to unilaterally abrogate the 1968 agreement. He has clashed repeatedly with his Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, regarding the latter's continued interference in Algerian relations, asserting that this remains the exclusive prerogative of the Élysée Palace and the Quai d'Orsay (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). All this data indicates that the French lower house's continued progress on the draft resolution would have led nowhere, given the lack of chances of its passage. However, its withdrawal at the last minute transformed the initiative into a courtship of the Algerian side, adding to the recent rapprochement efforts between the two capitals following months of unprecedented escalation. The Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Living Abroad, Laurent Saint-Martin, took advantage of this situation to praise the MPs, considering the decision to send a calming message that would help reduce the tensions that characterise Algerian-French relations.
Hypebeast
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Mohamed Bourouissa and the Invisible Powers That Make Us
At Bologna'sFondazione MAST,Mohamed Bourouissadares us to remember. InCommunauté,his most expansive solo exhibition in Italy to date, the Franco-Algerian artist tugs at the seams of society through 20 years of artistic practice. The show brings together four of his most major projects, each a study in how individuals assert dignity within systems designed to overlook them. Bourouissa's career is one largely shaped by the narratives of those living at the edges of visibility. Working across mediums, his pieces chart the undercurrents of power and identity that structure and shape everyday life. His breakout seriesPéripherique(2005-2008), for example, paints an honest portrait of post-riot Paris, gathering friends, family and other non-actors to stage scenes of tension and violence with the compositional drama of 19th-century painting. InHorse Day(2013–2019), the artist captures Black cowboys in North Philadelphia reclaiming the mythology of the American West. Bringing both horse and horsepower to mind, printed photographs appear on car hoods and fenders as riders affirm their presence in a frontier that tried to erase them, with stories of survival and pride in-hand. Meanwhile,Shoplifters(2014), explores a different kind of portraiture. Through 19 Polaroids, Bourouissa challenges the criminalization of poverty through grainy captures of would-be stolen detergent bottles, egg cartons and biscuits. Communautéalso marks the debut of his most recent reframes images from earlier series in cold, sculptural encounters. Metallic accents and deconstructed figures evoke ideas of control, coercion and the lack of touch in an increasingly surveilled world. Bourouissa's lens is never neutral, nor is it didactic. Holding a mirror up to the mechanisms of modern life,Communautéreminds us that art, at its sharpest, doesn't simply observe the world, but unsettles it. The exhibition is now onviewin Bologna through September 28. Fondazione MASTVia Speranza, 42,40133 Bologna BO,Italy
El Chorouk
20-06-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
French Interior Minister Tries to Bargain With Algerian Authorities
After an undeclared truce by French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, he once again dug into the ashes of the escalating political and diplomatic crisis between the two countries. The occasion was the release of social media influencer and activist Boualem Nouamane, following the end of his three-month administrative detention. Following this release, the French Interior Minister found himself facing a defeat in his confrontation with the state he considers his archenemy. Bruno Retailleau has been unable to deport Boualem Nouamane to his native Algeria by any means possible, despite more than six months of administrative and judicial attempts against him. Therefore, the minister in François Bayrou's government issued press statements confirming that he had not given up despite his failed efforts to deport Boualem Nouamane. However, the provocative tone he usually employs in the media when discussing Algeria disappeared this time, in what appeared to be an attempt to project a deceptive sense of calm that no longer fooled the Algerian authorities. Commenting on Boualem Nouamane's release from administrative detention, Bruno Retailleau told the French private television channel BFM TV: 'We will present him (Boualem Nouamane) to the Algerian authorities, as they are responsible,' he claimed, to obtain consular authorisation to deport him to Algeria. The man appeared desperate to get a response from the Algerian authorities in this regard, stating, 'There is an agreement signed between Algeria and France, and based on this agreement, we will see if someone's identity is known. The country of his origin must receive him.' On January 9, the French Interior Minister deported Boualem Nouamane to Algeria without obtaining a deportation permit issued by the Algerian consulate in France. This prompted Algerian authorities to return him on the same day's flight. This drastic decision drove Retailleau to the brink of madness, accusing the Algerian authorities of 'insulting' France, as he claimed. Although Bruno Retailleau initially refused to comment on the decision to release influencer Boualem Nouamane, his provocative and hostile stances toward the Algerian authorities prevented him from exerting self-control. For several weeks, he has refrained from mentioning Algeria, despite having spoken about it frequently morning and night. This has drawn sharp criticism from many French politicians, who have accused him of 'Algeria obsession.' Two days ago, Bruno Retailleau was asked about the Boualem Nouamane case on CNews, a channel known for its far-right stance. He responded by saying he preferred to 'stay silent.' However, he quickly corrected himself, confirming that he 'will regain his freedom to discuss this issue (the case of the influencer Boualem)' after the trial of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who is serving a five-year prison sentence in Algeria for his involvement in harming Algeria's territorial integrity. The trial of Boualem Sansal is expected to begin in an appeal session less than a week from now (June 24) before the Algiers Judicial Council. This means that the French Interior Minister is counting on an Algerian judicial decision that satisfies the French authorities; otherwise, he will reconsider the case of 'influencer Boualem,' in what appears to be a cheap bargain by the French minister. It is clear from Retailleau's statement that he is linking the case of Boualem Nouamane, who spent more than half a century of his life on French soil, 15 of which were legal, to another legally unrelated case: the case of Boualem Sansal, who was implicated in criminal offences that could have been punished more severely, namely, harming Algeria's territorial integrity.
El Chorouk
15-06-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
French Authorities Raise Sansal Case Again To Brussels
After a remarkable silence that lasted for a few weeks, what is known as the committee supporting the Franco-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal, decided to act again, by pressuring the institutions of the European Union, in order to resolve this issue, which has seen a striking decline in discussion within political and media circles in France. In a statement by Arnaud Benedetti, a member of the committee supporting the writer imprisoned in Algeria on charges of involvement in targeting the territorial integrity of the country, he said that the committee had filed a complaint with the European Union's 'Ombudsman' due to what he described as the 'inaction' of EU institutions in defending Boualem Sansal's case. After Arnaud Benedetti pointed out that the French National Assembly (the lower house of parliament) adopted a draft resolution on May 6 calling for the release of Boualem Sansal, with no significant results, he stated in an interview with the French parliamentary channel that the committee had not received 'any response' from the High Representative of the European Union since that date, which prompted the committee to 'contact the Ombudsman' to move the file. The Franco-Algerian writer, who is serving a five-year prison sentence, entered his seventh month in Koléa prison near the capital, while the Algiers Judicial Council is expected to begin reviewing his case again in an appeal session on the 24th of this month, following the public prosecutor's decision at the Dar El Beida court in the capital to appeal the five-year prison sentence. Based on the statement issued by a member of the committee supporting the Franco-Algerian writer, the committee aims to incite European Union institutions against Algeria, based on the partnership agreement signed between the two parties in 2002, which came into force in 2005, and which includes clauses on human rights. The committee, composed of French nationals, sought the help of European Union institutions after all attempts at blackmail led by French politicians and media figures, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, and many ministers in François Bayrou's government, such as Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, and Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and many political figures belonging to the traditional right and the far-right, failed. However, those repeated French campaigns and provocations only complicated the case of the writer accused of espionage and working for foreign entities, which prompted the Paris authorities to review their tone and lean towards de-escalation, by using phrases dominated by entreaty and appeals, realizing that those methods would only complicate the file further. Despite the change in the tone of the French authorities and their political and media arms towards Algeria, this does not mean that Paris has learned its lesson, as many observers believe that the former colonizer has not yet gotten rid of old practices, which are often characterized by political hypocrisy in secret, and de-escalation in public. It can be noted here the role that Paris may have played in classifying Algeria on the European Union's 'blacklist' of high-risk countries regarding money laundering and terrorist financing, which was recently issued by what is known as the 'Financial Action Task Force,' headquartered in the French capital and affiliated with the European Commission. Decisions issued by the European Union, particularly those concerning the Maghreb countries and Algeria, are usually entrusted to France due to its history in the region, which gives Paris a hand, one way or another, in this classification, and the Algerian authorities are well aware of this.
