Overview
- Sansal, 81, arrived in Berlin on Wednesday and is being treated at a military hospital, where he is expected to remain at least until early next week as tests continue.
- President Abdelmadjid Tebboune granted the pardon after German President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier’s request, and Germany agreed to handle Sansal’s transfer and treatment.
- The novelist had been sentenced in March to five years in prison under anti‑terrorism provisions for undermining national unity over remarks about colonial‑era borders.
- His family and lawyer say he has prostate cancer, and German and French appeals emphasized his age and deteriorating health in urging clemency.
- The decision eases a flashpoint in strained France–Algeria relations, though other disputes persist and French officials noted relief at the outcome following months of calls for his release.