French journalist Christophe Gleizes jailed in Algeria

Prominent French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, recently sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria, remains in a “fighting mood”but feels “completely isolated,” his parents revealed in an emotional interview with AFP.

Gleizes, who was convicted in late June on charges of “glorifying terrorism,” is currently being held in the Algerian city of Tizi Ouzou.

The 39-year-old journalist, known for his in-depth reporting on African football and contributions to the popular French magazine So Foot, has denied the charges. His family has called them “totally absurd,”and an appeal is expected to be heard later this autumn.

His mother, Sylvie Godard, spoke to AFP earlier this month at the Paris headquarters of Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

“Even if his morale is high, even if he is in fighting mood, he feels completely cut off from the world, isolated,”she said.

She and her husband, Francis Godard—Gleizes’ stepfather—warned against the risk of the case becoming entangled in broader diplomatic disputes between France and its former colony.

“We don’t want Christophe’s case to be used to resolve political issues with which Christophe has nothing to do,”Sylvie added.

“He’s a kind of collateral victim of the bad relations between France and Algeria at the moment,”Francis said.

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Tensions between Algiers and Paris have escalated over the past year, culminating in diplomatic tit-for-tat measures, including the expulsion of consular officials.

The situation worsened in July 2024 when French President Emmanuel Macron publicly endorsed Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Saharaan area where Algeria backs the pro-independence Polisario Front.

Gleizes is not the only high-profile case drawing attention. Algerian authorities have also sentenced French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal to five years in prison for allegedly “damaging national unity.”

Media rights advocates and human rights groups are closely monitoring both cases, warning that journalists and intellectuals should not become pawns in geopolitical conflicts.

As the only French journalistcurrently imprisoned abroad, Gleizes’ detention has sparked growing concern within France’s press community.