Following Steinmeier’s plea: Algeria pardons author
German President Steinmeier had requested the release of author Boualem Sansal. Now Algeria has agreed
Berlin (dpa) - Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has granted an official plea for clemency from Germany and pardoned the imprisoned author Boualem Sansal. This was announced by the Presidential Office in Algiers. Sansal was awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 2011.
The announcement suggests that Tebboune reacted “positively” in response to the plea submitted on Monday by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The Algerian politician accordingly granted Sansal a special pardon on “humanitarian grounds”. It went on to say that Germany will take care of Sansal’s transport and medical care.
Sansal was arrested in November last year when he landed in Algiers. In March, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment for acts contrary to national unity and security. He had expressed the view in an interview that the Moroccan national border had been shifted during the French colonial period in favour of Algeria.
Steinmeier announced in the evening that Sansal was now on his way to receive medical treatment in Germany. “I express my gratitude to my Algerian colleague for this significant humanitarian gesture. It also demonstrates the quality of the relationships and trust between Germany and Algeria.” Steinmeier is said to be “in contact with the French President regarding developments”.
Algiers had previously declined pleas for clemency from France. Sansal is an Algerian and French citizen.
