Czech Republic – Radio Prague International, April 04, 2025
Boualem Sansal was married to a Czech woman with whom he had two daughters. They have officially requested a presidential pardon from the Algerian head of state. Accused notably of “undermining national unity,” writer Boualem Sansal has been detained by Algerian authorities for nearly five months. He was recently sentenced by a local court to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 dinars. The 80-year-old author, who suffers from cancer, is published by the French publishing house Gallimard. Both he and the Algerian prosecutor’s office—which had requested a 10-year sentence—have appealed the initial verdict. Boualem Sansal’s two daughters gave an exclusive interview to Radio Prague International:
“My name is Sabeha. I am Boualem Sansal’s youngest daughter.”
“I’m Nawal, his eldest daughter. I don’t speak French anymore because I haven’t spoken it in a very long time. It’s very difficult for me.”
When was the last time you were in contact with your father?
Sabeha: “It’s been about two years. No, maybe less. A year and a half.”
Do you, his two daughters, also have Algerian nationality?
Sabeha: “Yes, I did at the time when I lived in Algeria for a year and a half (in the late 1980s, early 1990s), because I had lost my visa along with my Czech passport, and I had to go to the embassy to obtain Algerian nationality. But I’m not sure the Algerians still consider me Algerian.”
