"Algeria's presidency stated on Wednesday that it would pardon French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who was jailed on charges of "undermining national unity." German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had previously urged Algeria to release the 81-year-old novelist, citing his age and deteriorating health. After being pardoned, Sansal will be transferred to Germany for medical treatment. The writer reportedly has cancer, and his lawyer says his health was deteriorating in prison."
"Boualem Sansal is a civil servant-turned-novelist, best known for his essays and short stories critical of religious radicalism, colonialism, and the Algerian government. He has received a series of prestigious French awards for his work, as well as the 2011 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. Sansal was arrested last year at Algiers International Airport while arriving from France."
"There, he had made controversial remarks on Algeria's borders under French colonial rule during an interview with far-right French outlet Frontieres. Upon his arrest in Algeria, he was detained, and in March this year, under application of anti-terror legislation, sentenced to five years in prison for undermining national unity and security, among other charges. His case drew sharp criticism from France and deepened the diplomatic rift between Paris and Algiers."
Algeria's presidency announced a pardon for French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who had been jailed on charges of undermining national unity. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and others urged his release, citing his age and deteriorating health. Sansal, 81, reportedly has cancer and will be transferred to Germany for medical treatment after the pardon. Sansal is a civil servant–turned–novelist known for essays and short stories critical of religious radicalism, colonialism, and the Algerian government, and he received multiple French awards and the 2011 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. He was arrested after remarks on colonial-era borders and sentenced under anti-terror legislation to five years, a case that strained France–Algeria relations already tense over Western Sahara.
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