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Free Gleize: Football's Global Voice for Jailed Journalist
27 Oct
Summary
- French journalist Christophe Gleizes faces a seven-year sentence in Algeria.
- The Ballon d'Or ceremony dedicated its event to Gleizes's release.
- He was accused of supporting terrorism during a reporting trip.
French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Algeria. His situation was brought to global attention during the recent Ballon d'Or ceremony, organized by France Football magazine. Presenters dedicated the prestigious football awards event to the 37-year-old reporter, displaying his photo and the hashtag "#FreeGleize" on a large screen.
Gleizes was arrested in May 2024 during a trip to Algeria, where he intended to report on the football club Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie. Authorities accused him of supporting terrorism, stemming from his contacts with an official associated with the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Algeria in 2021.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has been campaigning for his release, asserting that his journalistic exchanges were within a professional context. Gleizes himself acknowledged procedural errors during his appeal hearing last December, regretting not applying for a journalist visa. The case occurs amid broader concerns about press freedom and diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria.
