“I’m fine.” These are the first words of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, recently released from an Algerian prison. Even though he is sick. “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he said to Laurent Delahousse, this Sunday evening, November 23 on France 2. I was treated in a truly extraordinary manner by doctors who were thorough and went above and beyond their duties. I came out of their hands healthy.”
Asked about the conditions of his detention, the author explained : “We couldn’t talk, we couldn’t act, we had no contact with other prisoners, let alone the outside world. I didn’t even have a lawyer. I was cut off from the world. Life was hard in prison, the hours were long, we were tired, we were tired, we felt like we were dying.”
And when the France 2 journalist asked if the words were limited, the writer answered : “I didn’t talk to you in a natural way because by nature, I was a bit passionate. There, I controlled my every word. I was already worried about my family, I was afraid that my wife would be arrested. I was thinking about Christophe Gleizes (French sports journalist detained in Algeria, editor’s note) and he was not the only one, there were several dozen political prisoners for such a reason, strange.”
In this highly anticipated speech, full of diplomatic issues and pre-recorded, Boualem Sansal appeared in good shape, with short hair and a strong voice. Finding life as a free person again is important “complicated” after a year of imprisonment in Algeria, the 81-year-old writer admitted. “We found life again, scents, murmurs, things we didn’t understand well, he said. There are things that excite me. Every time I pass a place, the smell of coffee drives me crazy.”
This was the first appearance in the media of the writer, who was sentenced to five years in prison in Algeria for certain positions in his home country. Boualem Sansal finally found his freedom on November 12, pardoned by Algeria’s president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, after a long standoff between France and Algeria, which Germany then mediated.
The author spoke this Sunday about relations between the two countries: “I have always supported reconciliation between France and Algeria. This should have been done in 1962, as Germany and France did after the Second World War, despite the atrocities. We missed the boat at that time. We could have done it, but we didn’t.” The author is also considering returning to his home country, “as soon as possible, if permitted”.
Finally, When asked about Bruno Retailleau’s highly offensive attitude towards Algeria when he was at the Ministry of Interior, Boualem Sansal emphasized that it could be an obstacle to his release: “I think so, in a way.” But he assured him, the Republican Party boss was his “Friend” and they will meet each other “in the days to come”.
This week, Boualem Sansal appeared in several media in his diary. This Monday, November 24, he will be the guest of France Inter’s morning show at 08:20. Starting Sunday evening, public radio published on its website short video excerpts of the taped interview. “Prison, you can get used to it, you must not believe that it is that bad, said the author. We must keep our suffering to ourselves. The prisoners did not communicate this, only remained silent. We cried in our cells, at night, alone, in our heads.”
