PARIS (AP) — A French-Algerian novelist who was granted a humanitarian pardon last week in Algeria after a yearlong imprisonment returned to France on Tuesday and was received by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee presidential palace, Macron's office said.
Boualem Sansal, 76, was released last week after Algeria ’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune granted him a humanitarian pardon in response to a German request. Sansal, who has cancer, first went to Berlin, where he received medical treatment. His attorney says his health has been deteriorating.
Macron expressed his gratitude in a statement “to all those who contributed to making that day possible,” especially German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, “whose good offices were decisive.”
The 76-year-old author — whose works have been critical of Islam, colonialism and contemporary Algerian leaders — was arrested at the airport in Algiers in November 2024 upon arrival from France. He was imprisoned for a year before his release.
He was convicted of undermining national unity and insulting public institutions and was sentenced to five years in prison under Algeria’s anti-terrorism laws in March.
Sansal’s Support Committee, a group of politicians, intellectuals and activists created to call for Sansal’s release, welcomed the author's return to France. “We send our fraternal greetings to Boualem and his family, who went through this long, unfair and painful ordeal with courage and dignity,” the group said in a statement.
Sansal’s case became a flashpoint as tensions spiked between France and Algeria last year. Macron and other French politicians urged authorities to free him. The European Parliament passed a resolution condemning his arrest. Literary colleagues, including Kamel Daoud, Salman Rushdie and PEN International, published open letters calling for his release.
It was ultimately an appeal from Germany that led Tebboune to act. Two days after Steinmeier asked for Sansal to be pardoned, citing his age and health problems, Tebboune cited humanitarian grounds and Germany’s request in issuing the pardon.
FILE - Boualem Sansal speaks during the 62 edition of International Film Festival Berlinale, in Berlin Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
MONT-TREMBLANT, Quebec (AP) — Alice Robinson of New Zealand raced to her second straight women's World Cup giant slalom victory Saturday at Mont-Tremblant, while American star Mikaela Shiffrin finished sixth.
Robinson led after the first run and had a combined time of 2 minutes, 16.18 seconds in the first of two races at the resort northwest of Montreal.
“I was a bit nervous this morning because the conditions here were so different compared to last weekend, so I wasn’t sure the good skiing from last weekend necessarily meant it was going to be good this weekend,” Robinson said. “I’m really happy to roll it through in these conditions which were really tough today.”
She has six career World Cup victories, also winning a week ago at Copper Mountain in Colorado. That victory made her the women's World Cup victory leader among skiers from a non-European or North American nation.
Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia was second, 0.94 seconds back. Valerie Grenier of Canada was third, a second behind on her home course.
“It was a big reaction, big tears in my eyes,” Grenier said. “I still can’t believe it happened. With my teammates jumping into my arms, it made me cry a lot."
Switzerland’s Camille Rast (2:17.39) and France’s Clara Direz (2:17.69) rounded out the top five. Shiffrin (2:17.83), who was third after the opening run, posted only the 20th-fastest second run.
The course and the steady snowfall through the entire first run appeared to cause trouble for several skiers, including some of the favorites.
Austria’s Julia Scheib, who won the first giant slamom of the season and led standings entering the day, failed to complete her opening run, as did Sweden’s Sara Hector, fifth in the standings and the first out of the gate Saturday.
A second giant slalom is set for Sunday.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Zrinka Ljutic, of Croatia, skis to a second place finish in the women's World Cup giant slalom in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
Valerie Grenier, of Canada, celebrates a third place finish in the women's World Cup giant slalom in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
Alice Robinson, of New Zealand, middle, celebrates her first place finish with Zrinka Ljutic , of Croatia, left, who took second and Valerie Grenier, of Canada, who finished third in the women's World Cup giant slalom in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
Alice Robinson, of New Zealand, celebrates her first place finish in the women's World Cup giant slalom in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
Alice Robinson, of New Zealand, celebrates her first place finish in the women's World Cup giant slalom in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
