French Journalist Gets Seven Years Prison in Algeria Case
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Alaina
- . June 30, 2025
- . Update: July 1, 2025 9:01 am
The court system in Algeria has decided to charge a seven year jail sentence to a French Sports journalist, Christophe Gleizes in another major setback to freedom of press in the long-troubled North African country. On Sunday, June 29, 2025, Tizi Ouzou court meted out the heavy penalty on the 36-year-old freelance reporter, who was accused of a terrorism-related crime involved with his journalistic activities.
Gleizes was convicted of the crime of glorifying terrorism and possession of materials harming national interest by the Tizi Ouzou criminal court. His legal problems started with investigation over one of the most politically important football clubs in Algeria Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK). The court accused Gleizes of retaining contact with club leadership figures who were at the same time engaged in region independence movements.
JSK has been more than a sporting club as it was also used as a platform of identity and political assertions in the Kabylie region. Among the Algerian authorities, the club has become a sensitive topic because of its reputation as an advocate of the culture rights of the Berbers and autonomy of the region in which it plays.
The Reporters Without Borders took immediate action in condemning the verdict calling it nonsensical, and it is the indication of the negative performance of media freedom in Algeria. Gleizes had been under the supervision of justice since May 28, 2024, before his definitive sentence coupled with a mandate of immediate detention, revealed the organization.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France had initially refused to comment on the decision of the court but then gave a statement revealing that they were very concerned over the conviction. Authorities assured that every civilized avenue is in motion to offer support to the jailed journalist although particular intervention steps were not given out.
Salah Brahimi, the president of the Tizi Ouzou Bar Association in person of Gleizes, said an appeal will be filed starting Wednesday, July 2, 2025. The defense team has 10 days within which to file formal appeal proceeding which gives a glimmer of hope of overturning what detractors refer to as an unjust conviction.
This case comes in the wake of increased criticism about how the Algerian judicial system treats the French nationals especially the case of Boualem Sansal the Franco-Algerian writer who went through the ordeal of a court trial. Sansal is detained at Algiers airport, in November 2024, and has since been tried separately in a case that has attracted global interest, in regard to press freedom trials in Algeria.
