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 .
Also Read : Who Is Michele Kang, the New Leader of Olympique Lyonnais?
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.
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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.
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