French Justice Approves Expulsion of Algerian Influencer Doualemn Amid Ongoing Legal Saga
On March 12, 2025, the Hérault Expulsion Commission supported the expulsion of Boualem Naman, an Algerian influencer known as Doualemn, following a video inciting violence against Algerian foes in France. His lawyer intends to appeal, claiming political motivations behind the ruling, which intensifies tensions in France-Algeria relations.
hassan benyoub 
March 13, 2025 – The French justice system has cleared the way for the expulsion of Boualem Naman, a 59-year-old Algerian influencer known as “Doualemn,” following a tumultuous legal battle that has gripped headlines since January. On Wednesday, March 12, the Hérault Expulsion Commission (Comex) issued a favorable opinion for his removal from France, a decision requested by the prefecture. However, Doualemn’s attorney, Maître Marie David-Bellouard, has vowed to appeal, branding the ruling as politically motivated.
A Controversial Case Unfolds
The saga began in early January 2025 when Doualemn, a Montpellier-based TikTok influencer with over 138,000 followers, posted a video inciting violence against opponents of Algeria’s regime residing in France. The clip prompted swift action: Montpellier’s mayor, Michaël Delafosse, and Hérault prefect, François-Xavier Lauch, flagged it to authorities, leading to Doualemn’s arrest and an Obligation to Leave French Territory (OQTF). On January 9, he was expelled to Algeria—only to be promptly refused entry by Algerian officials and returned to France that same evening, escalating tensions between Paris and Algiers.
The initial OQTF was annulled by the Melun Administrative Court in February, which ordered a procedural redo, citing insufficient justification for the “absolute urgency” expulsion process. Doualemn’s subsequent five-month suspended sentence for “provocation to commit a crime or offense without effect” on March 6 did little to settle the matter, as his legal team continued to challenge his removal.
Comex Ruling Reignites Debate
The Comex, a panel of three magistrates, convened on March 12 to review Doualemn’s case after a public hearing on March 5. Its favorable opinion marks a pivotal step toward his expulsion, though the final decision rests with the Interior Ministry. Posts on X reflect public frustration, with users like @Belcayre33 lamenting, “The Hérault expulsion commission authorizes Doualemn’s departure, but we’re not there yet… clowns!” The sentiment underscores a broader discontent with the drawn-out process.
Doualemn’s lawyer, Marie David-Bellouard, condemned the ruling as “staggering” in an AFP statement, arguing it disproportionately punishes a man whose life—family, children, and partner—is rooted in Montpellier. “This is a political decision,” she asserted. “Our client is caught in a vise, turned into a symbol of this government’s migration policy.” She plans an urgent appeal, signaling further legal wrangling ahead.
A Diplomatic and Domestic Flashpoint
The case has become a lightning rod in France-Algeria relations, already strained by Algeria’s refusal to accept Doualemn and the detention of writer Boualem Sansal. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who has championed a hardline stance, previously accused Algiers of seeking to “humiliate France” by rejecting the expulsion—a charge Algeria dismissed as disinformation. Posts on X from January, like @FredGaulois’s, highlight the initial judicial reversal as a self-inflicted embarrassment for France, a narrative that persists as the ministry prepares to act on the Comex ruling.
For now, Doualemn remains in France, his fate hinging on the appeal’s outcome and Algeria’s willingness to accept him. The Interior Ministry has one month to finalize its next move, a period likely to intensify scrutiny of France’s immigration enforcement and its diplomatic leverage with Algiers.
