Boualem Sansal, a Franco-Algerian writer, has been incarcerated in Algeria since mid-November and has started a hunger strike. His lawyer, François Zimeray, reported that Sansal is facing pressure to change his lawyer and is being denied contact with his family and access to his case. Sansal, who is 80 years old and undergoing cancer treatment, is losing hope for a fair trial. His release request was denied by the Algerian court, and there are calls for French President Emmanuel Macron to intervene for his release.