A French football journalist, Christophe Gleizes, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by an Algerian court after being convicted of “glorifying terrorism” and “possessing publications for propaganda purposes harmful to national interests.”
The 36-year-old, who contributed to the French sports magazine “So Foot”, was arrested in the Kabylie region of Algeria, where he had travelled to report on Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie, a prominent football club based in Tizi Ouzou.
Gleizes was taken into custody immediately following the verdict delivered by a court in Tizi Ouzou. His sentencing has sparked international condemnation, particularly from media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which described the ruling as “nonsensical” and a direct attack on press freedom.
In a statement released on Sunday, 29 June 2025, RSF strongly defended Gleizes, stating, “He was simply doing his job as a journalist.” The organisation’s director general, Thibaut Bruttin, added that the journalist “has been subjected to an absurd judicial control order for over a year,” expressing deep concern over the erosion of journalistic freedoms in Algeria.
Gleizes’ family also released a statement via RSF, saying: “We are in shock. There is no justification for Christophe having to endure this ordeal. How can one justify punishing a journalist for practising his profession with integrity?”
The Kabylie region, home to the Berber-speaking Kabyle people, has long been a sensitive area for Algerian authorities due to its history of political unrest and calls for autonomy.
The case has added further strain to Franco-Algerian relations. French President Emmanuel Macron had previously advocated for Gleizes’ release, especially in light of the detention of another high-profile figure, French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who was jailed in November last year on national security charges.
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