A court in Algeria has sentenced French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes to seven years in prison on charges of "glorifying terrorism" and "possessing propaganda publications harmful to the national interest," the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on July 1. Gleizes, who has written for French publications So Foot and Society, was arrested on May 28, 2024, in Tizi Ouzou, in Algeria's restive Kabylie region, after interviewing the president of football club JS Kabylie. Authorities alleged the interviewee had ties to the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), which Algeria designated a "terrorist group" in 2021. Gleizes' arrest was not made public until his sentencing on June 29.

"Sentencing French journalist Christophe Gleizes to seven years in prison on terrorism charges over an interview is a clear indication of the government's intolerance of press freedom," said Sara Qudah, CPJ's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. The CPJ has demanded Gleizes' immediate and unconditional release. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs further called the ruling "harsh" and confirmed it has requested consular access to Gleizes.

The conviction comes amid broader concerns over suppression of dissent in Algeria. In April, Amnesty International urged the release of Mohamed Tadjadit, a poet and activist, who is serving a five-year prison sentence for poems and social media posts critical of the government. Amnesty condemned the charges as politically motivated and called for an end to the criminalization of peaceful expression. Similarly, Human Rights Watch has reported a surge in arbitrary travel bans targeting Algerian activists and government critics. The bans, often imposed without formal charges or explanation, are part of what rights groups describe as a growing pattern of repression.

Most recently, the Algiers Court of Appeal upheld a verdict against French-Algerian writer and well-known government critic Boualem Sansal this week, who is set to serve a five-year prison sentence for threatening "state security."

From JURIST, July 2. Used with permission.