New Crisis Looms Between Paris and Algiers: French Judiciary Keeps Algerian Diplomat in Custody Over “Amir DZ” Case
ALDAR/
On Monday, April 28, 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal rejected a request for provisional release filed by an Algerian consular employee who had been arrested earlier this month. The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged kidnapping attempt targeting the well-known Algerian YouTuber “Amir DZ,” whose real name is Amir Boukhors and who currently resides in France as a political refugee.
French authorities detained the Algerian diplomat on April 11, on suspicion of involvement in a kidnapping plot believed to have been coordinated with Algerian security agencies. Some sources in Paris describe the operation as “meticulously planned” and linked to “illegal intelligence activities on French territory.”
Amir DZ, widely known for his outspoken criticism of Algerian authorities and for leaking sensitive information online, has become a prominent voice among the Algerian opposition in exile. He was granted political asylum in France several years ago.
The arrest has sparked an angry reaction from the Algerian government, which described it as a “violation of diplomatic norms” and an “unjustified escalation.” Paris, however, maintains its stance on the “rule of law” and its commitment to addressing “matters of national security” with full seriousness.
As the case proceeds in French courts, it threatens to further strain already tense relations between France and Algeria — a relationship previously tested by sensitive issues such as immigration, colonial memory, and security cooperation.
Observers warn that keeping the Algerian diplomat in detention could provoke stronger diplomatic retaliation from Algiers, possibly including the recall of ambassadors or suspension of bilateral cooperation, unless a political or legal resolution is found to defuse the crisis.
The case raises broader questions: Is this merely an isolated incident, or does it reveal a deeper, covert struggle over influence and intelligence between the two nations?
