Algerian publisher Amar Ingrachen is on the International Publishers Association’s Prix Voltaire 2025 shortlist announced in Paris, France, on Friday, April 11, 2025.
The International Publishers Association (IPA) Prix Voltaire is given to publishers who provide authors with the tools to disseminate their written ideas, assuming the same risks as the writers themselves. It honours the freedom to publish, without which many forms of freedom of expression would be impossible. Nominees have usually published controversial works amid pressure, threats, intimidation, or harassment, be it from governments, other authorities, or private interests. Imprisoned Egyptian publisher Khaled Lutfi was awarded in 2019.
The 2025 shortlist announcement was made at Festival du Livre de Paris, which ran in the French capital from April 11 – 13, 2025.
Kristenn Einarsson, Chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee, said: “The freedom to publish is vital if the freedom of expression is to exist in practice and if the freedom to read is to be enjoyed fully. The IPA Prix Voltaire recognizes those publishers who fight for their freedom to publish, for their freedom to recognize the remarkable work of a creator and to try to bring it to readers. As we see from the world around us the freedom of expression can erode very quickly with obvious influence on the Freedom to Publish. These are rights that we constantly must fight for, and as a number of publishers in our shortlist this year suggest, from exile if necessary.”
Among the six shortlistees was publisher and journalist Amar Ingrachen, who is the co-founder of Frantz Fanon Algeria. In 2023, Frantz Fanon published Jewish Algeria, a book exploring the country’s Jewish history. Amid growing pressure on Algerian publishers since the 2019 Hirak protest, Mr Ingrachen was placed under judicial control in November 2024 and Frantz Fanon was ultimately closed for 6 months by Algerian authorities in January 2025.
The winner will be named at the World Expression Forum in Lillehammer, Norway, from June 2 – 3, 2025.