Algeria pardons writer Boualem Sansal

Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. (AFP/File)

• The statement said Germany would take charge of the transfer and treatment of Sansal, who has prostate cancer, according to his family
• He was arrested in November 2014 at Algiers airport. Because he did not appeal March’s ruling, he was eligible for a presidential pardon

The statement said Germany “will be in charge of the transfer and treatment” of Sansal

ALGEIRS: Algeria has accepted a German proposal to pardon French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, the presidency said Wednesday, adding that he was being transferred to Germany for medical treatment after a year in detention.
After German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged Algeria to free the 81-year-old writer, “the president of the republic decided to respond positively to the request of the esteemed president of the friendly Federal Republic of Germany,” the presidency said in a statement.
The statement said Germany “will be in charge of the transfer and treatment” of Sansal, who suffers from prostate cancer according to his family.