Sentenced to seven years in prison for "apology for terrorism," French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes filed an appeal with the Algerian Supreme Court on Sunday, his lawyers announced. This appeal, filed on the deadline, aims to obtain a retrial after his sentence was upheld on appeal on December 3 by the Tizi-Ouzou court.
Imprisoned since June 2025, Christophe Gleizes is being prosecuted by Algerian authorities for having been in contact with an official of the Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie football club, who is also responsible for the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), classified as a terrorist organization by Algiers. His lawyers strongly contest the accusations, denouncing the case as baseless.
Alongside these legal proceedings, the journalist's family is now considering a request for a presidential pardon. Several press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, continue to denounce what they consider an arbitrary detention and are demanding his release.
