French Sports Journalist Christophe Gleizes Sentenced to 7 Years in Algerian Prison

Journalist Christophe Gleizes

Who Is Christophe Gleizes?

• Age: 36
• Profession: Freelance sports journalist, contributing to So Foot and Society in the So Press media group .
• Expertise: Specializes in African football; co‑author of Magique système: l’esclavage moderne des footballeurs africains (2018) .

Arrest and Charges

• May 28, 2024: Gleizes arrived in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria, on a tourist visa to cover a story on the local club Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK), including commemorating the death of Albert Ebossé .
• He was arrested and placed under judicial supervision. Algerian authorities accused him of glorifying terrorism and possessing publications deemed propaganda harmful to national interests .
• The charges were linked to contacts he’d had during 2015, 2017, and 2024 with a JSK official associated with the Movement for the Self‑Determination of Kabylie (MAK), which Algeria classified as a terrorist group in 2021 .

The Sentence

• June 29, 2025: The Tizi Ouzou court sentenced Gleizes to 7 years in prison, with immediate incarceration .
• This ruling follows a 13‑month judicial review period during which Gleizes was unable to leave Algeria .
• His legal team, along with RSF (Reporters sans frontières) and So Press, confirmed an appeal would be filed on June 30 .

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Reactions from Media and Rights Groups

• RSF condemned the verdict as “nonsensical” and politically motivated, pleading for his immediate release .
• Thibaut Bruttin, Director-General of RSF, criticized the Algerian justice system for betraying political influence .
• Franck Annese, founder of So Press, echoed demands for international support so Gleizes can return home .
• Gleizes’s family condemned the decision and described him as a journalist of strong integrity .

Diplomatic and Political Context

• The sentencing comes amid strained relations between France and Algeria, worsened by France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara .
• Gleizes’s case follows the imprisonment of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, highlighting a pattern of judicial repression in Algeria .
• Press freedom groups rank Algeria 126th out of 180 countries—indicating a challenging climate for journalists .

Final Thoughts: A Journalist Imprisoned for Doing His Job

Christophe Gleizes was covering a local football story—routine journalistic work. Yet he now faces seven years in prison, a verdict RSF calls “absurd” and “political.” His case reflects larger issues: diminishing press freedom, geopolitically influenced justice, and the peril journalists face globally.

With his appeal set to be heard in autumn, international pressure especially from France’s government, media advocacy groups, and **press freedom organizations **will be crucial to ensure he is allowed to return home safely.