Hosting the conversation

Middle East Experience

Latest News

French writer jailed in Algeria won't appeal, still hopeful of pardon: supporters

French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal will not appeal his five-year prison sentence to Algeria's supreme court, said sources close to the author on Saturday, saying they remain hopeful for a pardon.The 80-year-old dual national writer was sentenced to five years behind bars on March 27 on charges related to undermining Algeria's territorial integrity over comments made to a French media outlet."According to our information, he will not appeal to the supreme court," the president of the author's support committee, Noelle Lenoir, told broadcaster France Inter on Saturday.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: French writer jailed in Algeria won't appeal, still hopeful of pardon: supporters

Britain reestablishes full Syria ties as FM visits Damascus

Britain reestablished full diplomatic relations with Syria on Saturday, more than a decade after cutting ties, as Foreign Secretary David Lammy met the country's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus.In 2011, Britain was among the first countries to acknowledge rebel groups as the official Syrian government after then-president Bashar al-Assad's crushing of pro-democracy protests plunged the country into civil war.London also joined sanctions against Syria and later closed its embassy in Damascus, going on to launch air strikes on Assad's forces.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Britain reestablishes full Syria ties as FM visits Damascus