Leipzig shows the flag: Solidarity evening for boule sansal

Leipzig shows the flag: Solidarity evening for boule sansal

Leipzig, Deutschland - in Leipzig, an impressive solidarity evening was held on Tuesday for the French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. The event, which was under the motto "Freedom for Boualem Sansal", took place in the ballroom of the Old Town Hall and was organized by both the University of Leipzig and the Literaturhaus. Numerous prominent faces from culture and politics came together to protest against the unjustified detention. Well-known personalities such as Leipzig's mayor Burkhard Jung and the Vice President of Pen, Najem Wali, found clear words on this topic. Wali emphasized the political background of Sansal's arrest and emphasized how important the role of writers in a free society is.

The background: Boualem Sansal was arrested in Algeria in November 2024 for "attacks on the unity of the state" and came to a five -year prison sentence, which was now confirmed by an Algian Court of Appeal. Although the public prosecutor had originally asked for ten years, the punishment is relatively low, which some interpret as a hopeful sign. Sansal not only receives support from literary and artists, but also from the general public: a petition to release the "Leipzig Initiative" has already collected almost 27,000 signatures from all over Europe, North Africa, North and South America and Asia.

an evening of solidarity

Sansal's work was honored at the event. Regina Keil-Sagawe, his German translator, spoke about his narrative wealth, while Martina Hefter and Jan Kuhlbrodt show passages from his essay "Postlagen. Algier". Prominent voices like Daniel Kehlmann commented in video messages and recalled that "as long as one of us is in prison, none of us is free". The film director Volker Schlöndorff and other well -known colleagues joined the calls to solidarity and underlined the importance of freedom of expression.

In the middle of the worries about Sansals' health, which is ill with cancer, there is also hope. Thorsten Ahrend, head of the Leipzig Literature House, has the hope of pardoning by the Algerian President, especially since July 5, the National Day of Algeria, traditionally offers occasions for pardon.

a memorial for freedom of expression

like Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, the chairwoman of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandel, emphasizes, the prison sentence for Sansal is an "unacceptable attack on freedom of expression". At a time when many in the cultural scene are committed to the rights of writers and intellectuals, Sansal's case is particularly serious. He is considered one of the most important contemporary writers and received the Peace Prize of German Book Trade in 2011 for his tireless entry for human rights.

The evening was not only a sign of solidarity, but also an expression of resistance to oppression. Writers like Hamid Skif, who himself fled from Algeria, remind us of how important it is to represent your own truth and to work for the freedom of the word. Skif, who settled in Germany, has experienced censorship and oppression in his home country and leaves no doubt that the path to democracy and justice in Algeria is still long.

With every event and every sign of support, the voices for freedom become louder. We hope for an early release of boule sansals so that he can write and think freely again.