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October 24, 2025 – Algeria/France –
The appeal trial of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes has been set for 3 December 2025 by the Tizi Ouzou Court of Justice, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Gleizes was originally sentenced on 29 June to seven years’ imprisonment after being charged with “glorifying terrorism” and “possessing publications for propaganda harmful to national interest” linked to his reporting in Algeria.
Gleizes, known for his work for publications such as So Foot and Society, was arrested on 28 May 2024 while researching the Algerian football club Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie. The authorities accused him of interacting with a figure linked to the Makyle independence movement (MAK), which Algeria has designated as a terrorist organization. RSF has described the conviction as a misuse of anti-terror laws to punish journalistic activity and has renewed its call for Gleizes’s immediate and unconditional release.
In its statement, RSF asserted that Gleizes was punished for “simply doing his job” and covering a topic (African football) that should not carry criminal liability. The organization noted that the forthcoming appeal presents an opportunity for the Algerian judiciary to rectify what RSF views as a serious injustice.
The case has drawn attention to the deteriorating environment for independent journalism in Algeria, where anti-terrorism legislation and restrictions on press freedom have increasingly been used against reporters. RSF’s advocacy around Gleizes’s case is part of broader efforts to protect media workers from politicized prosecution under the guise of national-security concerns.
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