Latest news with #Gleizes
Euronews
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Family of French journalist jailed in Algeria asks Zidane for help
The family of a French sports journalist who has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria is calling for help from the sporting world and football superstar Zinédine Zidane, who is of Algerian descent. Christophe Gleizes, a 36-year-old freelance journalist, was sentenced last week over an interview with an Algerian football coach accused of ties to a banned separatist movement, in a case rights groups say criminalises routine reporting. Although Gleizes' family had been reportedly advised to keep quiet about their son's detention by French diplomats, following his sentencing, they decided to break their silence. In an interview with French broadcaster France 2 on Thursday evening, Gleizes' relatives called on sports personalities to support his case. "It would be great if Zinédine Zidane were to get involved in this fight,' said Gleizes' father in law, Francis Godard. Godard added that the case was "a fight for both freedom of the press and the world of football. Journalists are mobilised, as we know, but we would like the sporting world to be just as mobilised. Christophe is a sports journalist and is therefore interested in the business of sport. This concerns the world of sport very directly." Although Gleizes has been tried and convicted, prosecutors have not publicly announced the charges and Algerian officials have not commented on the case. Algerian authorities have been repeatedly accused of using anti-terrorism laws to target political speech by rights advocates. A case dating back to May 2024 Journalist and football fan Gleizes was arrested in May 2024, after travelling to Algeria to write a series of articles, including a piece about the golden era of the Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie football club, located in the Kabylia region. On 28 May, Gleizes was arrested and placed under judicial supervision for having entered Algeria on a tourist visa, "glorifying terrorism," and "possessing propaganda publications harmful to the national interest," Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said last week, stating that the charges were "unfounded." According to RSF, the charges stem from the fact that Gleizes was in contact with a coach from the Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK) football club, located in the Kabylie region of Algeria. The Algerian government opposes Kabylie independence and has cracked down on groups backing it. RSF reported that the individual who Gleizes was in touch with, happens to be a leading figure in the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), which was designated a terrorist organisation by the Algerian authorities in 2021. However, RSF added that "the first interactions between Christopher Gleizes and the individual in question occurred in 2015 and 2017, well before the MAK was proscribed as a terrorist entity." Years later, in 2024, in preparation for his piece on the JSK football club, Gleizes made contact with the individual again, however this is not something which he concealed. The French journalist's sentence was handed down as relations between France and Algeria have reached new lows. The two countries are sparring over migration, extradition, trade and France's change in position over the status of the disputed Western Sahara.
Euronews
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
French journalist sentenced in Algeria, family asks for Zidane support
The family of a French sports journalist who has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria is calling for help from the sporting world and football superstar Zinédine Zidane, who is of Algerian descent. Christophe Gleizes, a 36-year-old freelance journalist, was sentenced last week over an interview with an Algerian football coach accused of ties to a banned separatist movement, in a case rights groups say criminalises routine reporting. Although Gleizes' family had been reportedly advised to keep quiet about their son's detention by French diplomats, following his sentencing, they decided to break their silence. In an interview with French broadcaster France 2 on Thursday evening, Gleizes' relatives called on sports personalities to support his case. "It would be great if Zinédine Zidane were to get involved in this fight,' said Gleizes' father in law, Francis Godard. Godard added that the case was "a fight for both freedom of the press and the world of football. Journalists are mobilised, as we know, but we would like the sporting world to be just as mobilised. Christophe is a sports journalist and is therefore interested in the business of sport. This concerns the world of sport very directly." Although Gleizes has been tried and convicted, prosecutors have not publicly announced the charges and Algerian officials have not commented on the case. Algerian authorities have been repeatedly accused of using anti-terrorism laws to target political speech by rights advocates. A case dating back to May 2024 Journalist and football fan Gleizes was arrested in May 2024, after travelling to Algeria to write a series of articles, including a piece about the golden era of the Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie football club, located in the Kabylia region. On 28 May, Gleizes was arrested and placed under judicial supervision for having entered Algeria on a tourist visa, "glorifying terrorism," and "possessing propaganda publications harmful to the national interest," Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said last week, stating that the charges were "unfounded." According to RSF, the charges stem from the fact that Gleizes was in contact with a coach from the Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK) football club, located in the Kabylie region of Algeria. The Algerian government opposes Kabylie independence and has cracked down on groups backing it. RSF reported that the individual who Gleizes was in touch with, happens to be a leading figure in the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), which was designated a terrorist organisation by the Algerian authorities in 2021. However, RSF added that "the first interactions between Christopher Gleizes and the individual in question occurred in 2015 and 2017, well before the MAK was proscribed as a terrorist entity." Years later, in 2024, in preparation for his piece on the JSK football club, Gleizes made contact with the individual again, however this is not something which he concealed. The French journalist's sentence was handed down as relations between France and Algeria have reached new lows. The two countries are sparring over migration, extradition, trade and France's change in position over the status of the disputed Western Sahara.
Winnipeg Free Press
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Family of French journalist sentenced in Algeria pleads for help from soccer great Zidane
PARIS (AP) — The family of a French sports journalist who has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria is calling for help from the sporting world and soccer great Zinédine Zidane. Christophe Gleizes, a 36-year-old freelance sportswriter, was sentenced last week over an interview with a soccer official accused of ties to a banned separatist movement, in a case rights groups say criminalizes routine reporting. Gleizes was arrested and placed under judicial supervision more than a year ago for entering Algeria without a proper visa, 'glorifying terrorism,' and 'possessing propaganda publications harmful to the national interest,' Reporters Without Borders said last week. Gleizes' relatives were invited to speak on French television on Thursday night and called on sports personalities to support his case. 'It would be great if Zinédine Zidane were to get involved in this fight,' Gleizes' father in law, Francis Godard, told France 2 channel. 'After all, it's a fight for both freedom of the press and the world of football. Journalists are mobilized, as we know, but we would like the sporting world to be just as mobilized. Christophe is a sports journalist and is therefore interested in the business of sport. This concerns the world of sport very directly.' Gleizes was tried and convicted, although prosecutors have not publicly announced the charges and Algerian officials have not commented on the case. However, authorities have in the past faced criticism from rights advocates who say Algeria uses anti-terrorism laws to target political speech. Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders said the charges against Gleizes stemmed from contact he had with the head of a soccer club who was also a member of a political movement that Algeria designated as a terrorist group four years ago. The French journalist's sentence came as relations between France and Algeria reach new levels of hostility. The two countries are sparring over migration, extradition, trade and France's change in position over the status of the disputed Western Sahara. ___ AP soccer:
New York Post
01-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
French sportswriter sentenced to prison for ‘glorifying terrorism' in Algeria
A French journalist has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria over an interview with a soccer official accused of ties to a banned separatist movement, in a case rights groups say criminalizes routine reporting. Christophe Gleizes, a 36-year-old freelance sportswriter, was arrested and placed under judicial supervision more than a year ago for entering Algeria without a proper visa, 'glorifying terrorism,' and 'possessing propaganda publications harmful to the national interest,' Reporters Without Borders said in a statement on Sunday. 4 Christophe Gleizes was arrested and placed under judicial supervision more than a year ago for entering Algeria without a proper visa. SO PRESS – RSF/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement He was tried and convicted, although prosecutors have not publicly announced the charges and Algerian officials have not commented on the case. However, authorities have in the past faced criticism from rights advocates who say Algeria uses anti-terrorism laws to target political speech. Thibaut Bruttin, Reporters Without Borders director general, called authorities' decision to hold Gleizes for 13 months before sentencing an example of 'absurd judicial control' and called the seven-year sentence 'nonsensical.' The press freedom group said Gleizes planned to appeal the sentences on Monday. Advertisement 4 He was tried and convicted, although prosecutors have not publicly announced the charges and Algerian officials have not commented on the case. Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images The charges against Gleizes, the group said, stemmed from contact he had with the head of a soccer club who was also a member of a political movement that Algeria designated as a terrorist group four years ago. Gleizes, had contributed to the magazines So Foot and Society, had gone to Algeria last year to report on JS Kabylie, Algeria's most historically dominant soccer team. 4 However, authorities have in the past faced criticism from rights advocates who say Algeria uses anti-terrorism laws to target political speech. SO PRESS-RSF / COURTESY OF THE GLEIZES FAMILY/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement JS Kabylie and its successes are deeply enmeshed in the movement to win cultural recognition for Algeria's Amazigh minority in the mountainous Kabylia region. The region has for decades been an epicenter of rebellion in Algeria. Authorities have in recent years clamped down on the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia, a separatist group whose leader has been sentenced to death in absentia for 'attacking national unity.' The French journalist's sentence comes as relations between France and Algeria reach new levels of hostility. The two countries are sparring over migration, extradition, trade and France's change in position over the status of the disputed Western Sahara. 4 The two countries are sparring over migration, extradition, trade and France's change in position over the status of the disputed Western Sahara. NurPhoto via Getty Images France's Foreign Affairs Ministry called Gleizes' sentence harsh, saying it planned to provide consular support and had applied to visit him in prison. Advertisement While the case was received with shock in France's media, few in Algeria were aware of Gleizes' detention before the sentence was announced. 'This is a murky affair,' said Karim Adli, a sports journalist based in the city of Tizi Ouzou.
Morocco World
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
French Sports Journalist Sentenced to Seven Years in Algeria
Rabat – An Algerian court has sentenced French journalist Christophe Gleizesto seven years in prison, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Algerian authorities arrested the 36-year-old freelance journalist, who writes for So Foot and Society magazines, in May 2024 while working on a story about an Algerian football club. RSF and the journalist's employer, So Press, described the verdict as 'unjust' and confirmed that they will file an appeal today. Converging reports said Gleizes wasy arrested in Tizi Ouzou on May 28, 2024, and placed under judicial supervision for over a year. The charges against him include entering the country with a tourist visa, 'apology for terrorism,' and 'possession of publications for propaganda purposes.' He was transferred directly to prison after being sentenced in a first-instance trial. RSF believes the charges are politically motivated. The organization says that the 'terrorism' accusation is linked to past contacts Gleizes had in 2015 and 2017 with the head of the football club Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK), who is also involved in the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK). The organization says Algerian authorities labeled MAK a terrorist group in 2021;, years after Gleizes' early contacts. RSF added that Gleizes was transparent about a recent exchange with the same individual in 2024, which was solely to prepare his sports article. 'This sentence makes no sense,' said RSF's director general, Thibaut Bruttin. 'It only shows that today, nothing escapes politics, and the Algerian justice system missed an opportunity to act with fairness,' he added. Franck Annese, the founder of So Press, also urged political and diplomatic efforts to help Gleizes return home. 'Everything must be done to ensure justice is served, and that Christophe can reunite with his loved ones and colleagues,' he said. The case comes in the wake of a major diplomatic rift between France and Algeria. Tensions have grown since French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support in 2024 for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara. Relations worsened further after the arrest of French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal in November. Tags: AlgeriaFrancejournalist
