Rima Hassan: The LFI MP Aligned with the Algerian Regime and Mouthpiece for the Polisario!
The European Parliament’s vote in favor of releasing Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has exposed a deep political rift, particularly within the delegation of La France Insoumise (LFI). Among the MEPs who stood out by opposing this resolution, one name continues to echo: Rima Hassan. Her shocking decision has sparked outrage across the political spectrum and raised serious concerns about her troubling ties to Algeria’s military regime and its narrative.
A Shameful and Inexcusable Decision:
Last Thursday, a majority of MEPs (533 in favor, 24 against, and 48 abstentions) voted for a resolution demanding the release of Boualem Sansal, imprisoned in Algeria since mid-November under the pretext of “terrorist activity,” as defined by Article 87 bis of the Algerian Penal Code. This absurd charge is nothing more than an attempt to silence a critic of the ruling regime.
Yet, Rima Hassan chose to vote “against,” a stance that reeks of culpable complacency towards Algeria’s military junta and its proxies. Her decision reflects a blatant alignment with a political strategy driven by electoral and communal interests, disregarding core principles of democracy and human rights.
Rima Hassan: A Collaborator of the Algerian Regime and Voice of the Polisario:
The term may seem harsh, but it aptly describes her dubious and ambiguous political approach. By claiming to reject the “instrumentalization” of Sansal’s case, Rima Hassan merely excuses the inexcusable, abandoning an intellectual persecuted for his ideas. How can one justify refusing to support a writer jailed solely for expressing opinions that challenge the Algerian regime?
This stance is even more telling in light of Algeria’s notorious hostility to free expression and relentless suppression of dissent. Rima Hassan’s refusal, and by extension her party’s, to condemn such injustice casts no doubt on their alignment with the power centers in Algiers.
Widespread Outrage:
The backlash against this disgraceful vote was swift. From Jordan Bardella, who condemned a “preference for the tyranny of an authoritarian regime,” to leftist figures like Raphaël Glucksmann, who labeled the vote “scandalous,” voices from across the political spectrum expressed their dismay at LFI’s position.
Former Insoumis François Ruffin openly voiced his “total disagreement,” reminding everyone that “a writer’s place is not in prison.” Even Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called the abstention “inhumane and politically outrageous,” demanding clear explanations from LFI.
Rima Hassan Must Be Held Accountable:
This incident serves as a stark reminder that certain political figures, who claim to champion public freedoms, are willing to turn a blind eye to oppressive regimes when it aligns with their interests. Rima Hassan’s stance in this case is an affront to democratic values and universal human rights.
French citizens, committed to freedom of expression and the defense of fundamental rights, have every right to demand accountability from those, like Rima Hassan, who by their silence or inaction, become complicit in the most egregious abuses of an oppressive regime.
