The Algerian presidency announced today its acceptance of a German proposal to pardon French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, 80, despite a five-year prison sentence handed down in March 2025.
This decision follows a German request emphasizing the humanitarian aspect of the case, highlighting Sansal’s deteriorating health condition.
### Background: Criticism of Borders and National Unity
Sansal was arrested in March 2025 on charges of “harming the unity of the Algerian people” after making statements regarding the border dispute between Algeria and Morocco. The prominent writer, who holds both French and Algerian citizenship, was convicted in a widely controversial trial and sentenced to five years in prison, with his appeal being denied. These statements were part of Sansal’s ongoing discussions about democracy and extremism in the region, which have made him a target of the Algerian authorities despite his global acclaim.
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