Dissent, Islamism, and the Algeria-Iran Connection

Boualem Sansal, the acclaimed French-Algerian writer, was arrested by the Algerian authorities on November 16, 2024, sparking outrage worldwide. For more than a week, his whereabouts were unknown, until it was revealed that he had been detained on charges of “endangering the nation.” The arrest highlighted not only the dangers faced by outspoken intellectuals in Algeria but also the growing influence of Islamism in the country, a force that has gained significant traction in recent decades. Moreover, Sansal’s arrest comes amid growing ties between Algeria and Iran, two countries whose governments have both embraced authoritarianism and a violent brand of political Islam. 

Born in Tissemsilt, Algeria, in 1949, Boualem Sansal was trained as an engineer and economist. He worked for the Algerian Ministry of Industry, where he enjoyed a stable and prosperous career. However, as the country slowly fell under the influence of Islamism following the Algerian Civil War, Sansal became increasingly disillusioned. During the 1990s, Algeria endured a brutal civil conflict, often referred to as the “Black Decade,” in which an estimated 150,000 people were killed. This period exposed the fragility of the secular state and the rise of Islamist militancy, particularly from groups like the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) and the Armed Islamic Group (GIA). 

In response to the political and social crises around him, Sansal began writing. His first novel, Le Serment des barbares (The Oath of the Barbarians), published in 1999, explores the corruption and dysfunction of Algerian society in the aftermath of the civil war. It earned critical acclaim but also drew the ire of the government. As his literary career flourished, Sansal’s criticism of Algeria’s political system intensified, particularly its embrace of political Islam and the silencing of dissent. 

Despite facing increasing pressure from the Algerian government, Sansal did not back down. In 2003, after the publication of Dis-moi le paradis (Tell Me About Paradise), a novel critical of the country’s post-colonial identity and its government’s incompetence, he was forced to leave his bureaucratic post. Yet he remained committed to his writing, and his work continued to reflect his belief in the importance of free speech, individual liberty, and the rejection of oppressive ideologies. 

The rise of political Islam in Algeria has been a central theme in Boualem Sansal’s work. In his later writings, such as Le village de l’Allemand (The German Village), Sansal explored the uneasy relationship between Arabs and Islamism, offering a critique of how the ideology was manipulating politics and stoking division in the region. His 2016 novel 2084: La fin du monde (2084: The End of the World) is a dystopian narrative warning of the dangers of radical Islam, portraying a world governed by a totalitarian Islamic regime. 

For Sansal, the spread of Islamism is a direct threat to the values of reason, freedom, and pluralism that he cherishes. He has been vocal about the growing encroachment of Islamism, both in Algeria and the broader Middle East, and has often pointed to the lack of political reform and the suppression of free speech as factors enabling its rise. He has made it clear that Islamism, far from being an authentic expression of faith, is a political tool used by authoritarian governments and extremists to maintain power and suppress opposition. 

While Boualem Sansal’s arrest is deeply alarming, it is also indicative of broader geopolitical trends in the Middle East and North Africa. One of the more troubling developments in recent years has been the growing connection between Algeria and Iran, particularly in terms of their shared authoritarian tendencies and their common interest in promoting a certain form of political Islam. 

Iran, under the leadership of the Islamic Republic, has long been a promoter of militant Shiism and political Islam across the region. Its influence in countries like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen has been significant, often destabilizing the region through support for proxy militias and violent political movements. Iran has also cultivated close ties with Islamist groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and various Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. The Islamic Republic’s model of governance—an autocratic system that combines theocratic rule with brutal repression—has found resonance in several countries in the Middle East, including Algeria. 

In recent years, Algeria and Iran have strengthened their political and economic ties, which some analysts view as a mutual alignment of interests. Both countries are governed by authoritarian regimes that suppress dissent, restrict freedoms, and crack down on opposition. Iran’s government, with its revolutionary Shiite ideology, shares some ideological similarities with Algeria’s ruling elite, which has sought to consolidate power under the banner of Islamic nationalism and anti-colonialism. Both countries also share a deep distrust of Western influence, particularly the United States and its allies, and have used the rhetoric of resistance to justify their domestic policies and foreign actions. 

Boualem Sansal’s arrest is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by writers and intellectuals in Algeria and the broader Middle East. By speaking out against the spread of Islamism and the authoritarian practices of his government, Sansal has made himself a target. His arrest, under charges of “endangering the nation,” highlights the fragility of free expression in Algeria, where the government has shown a willingness to silence any dissenting voices. 

Sansal’s critics have accused him of being a traitor and of aligning himself with Western powers, but his defenders see him as a courageous figure who refuses to compromise on his values. His stance on Israel, for instance, has made him a controversial figure in the Arab world. In 2012, he accepted an invitation to attend the Jerusalem Writers Festival, publicly stating that he believed in the importance of dialogue and peace with Israel, despite the widespread hostility toward the Jewish state in the Arab world. 

Sansal remains incarcerated, and his fate is uncertain. His arrest has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, intellectuals, and writers worldwide, who are calling for his immediate release. However, many in the international community remain silent, perhaps fearing the political consequences of speaking out against authoritarian regimes. In this moment, it is essential to stand in solidarity with Boualem Sansal and other intellectuals who risk their lives to speak the truth in the face of oppressive regimes. 

Boualem Sansal’s arrest is not just a tragedy for the writer himself but also a warning about the dangers of Islamism and authoritarianism in Algeria, Iran, and the broader region. The growing connection between these two countries, both of which are governed by repressive regimes, poses a serious threat to freedom and democracy. Sansal’s courage in the face of such adversity reminds us that the fight for freedom of expression is one that transcends national borders and requires international solidarity.