Algerian court upholds 7-year jail term for French journalist Christophe Gleizes
JournalismPakistan.com | Published 54 minutes ago | JP Middle East Desk
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A court in Algeria upheld a 7-year sentence for French journalist Christophe Gleizes over sports reporting tied to the Kabylia region, sparking criticism from press freedom advocates and France’s government.Summary
TIZI OUZOU, Algeria — A court of appeal in Tizi Ouzou on December 3, 2025, upheld a seven-year prison sentence against French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes. The conviction stems from his June 2025 original sentencing for “glorifying terrorism” and “possessing publications harmful to national interests” after reporting on the prominent football club JS Kabylie (JSK) in the Kabylia region.
Gleizes, a contributor to the French magazines So Foot and Society, was arrested on May 28, 2024, under a tourist visa while researching the club’s history, assignments considered standard in sports journalism. The charges relate to interviews with individuals linked to the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), a group classified as a terrorist organization by Algerian authorities in 2021.
The appeal ruling dashed hopes for clemency, prompting condemnation from press-freedom advocates. The rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described the verdict as “outrageous,” saying Gleizes was punished simply for doing his job as a journalist.
The decision also provoked a diplomatic reaction: the foreign ministry of France formally criticised the judgment and renewed calls for Gleizes’s release on consular grounds, reiterating its commitment to global freedom of the press.
Observers warn that the verdict may deepen self-censorship among foreign and local journalists covering sensitive political or cultural issues in Algeria, especially in regions like Kabylia. The case underscores how anti-terrorism statutes can be used to stifle reporting and chill independent journalism.
KEY POINTS:
- An Algerian appeals court on December 3, 2025, upheld a seven-year prison sentence against French journalist Christophe Gleizes
- Gleizes was convicted in June for “glorifying terrorism” and “possessing propaganda publications” after reporting on JS Kabylie
- Rights group Reporters Without Borders condemned the ruling as unjust and politically motivated
- France’s foreign ministry criticised the decision and called for Gleizes’s release, offering consular assistance
- The ruling reinforces concerns that anti-terror laws in Algeria are being used to suppress journalistic coverage of sensitive regions
ATTRIBUTION: Reporting based on public statements by RSF, French Foreign Ministry, and court records via AFP, Reuters, and Associated Press coverage
PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only
