Family of French journalist sentenced in Algeria pleads for help from football superstar Zidane

Published connected 04/07/2025 - 15:00 GMT+2•Updated 15:08

The family of a French sports journalist who has been sentenced to 7 years successful situation successful Algeria is calling for thief from nan sporting world and shot superstar Zinédine Zidane, who is of Algerian descent.

Christophe Gleizes, a 36-year-old freelance journalist, was sentenced past week complete an question and reply pinch an Algerian shot coach accused of ties to a banned separatist movement, successful a lawsuit authorities groups opportunity criminalises regular reporting.

Although Gleizes' family had been reportedly advised to support quiet astir their son's detention by French diplomats, pursuing his sentencing, they decided to break their silence.

In an question and reply pinch French broadcaster France 2 connected Thursday evening, Gleizes' relatives called connected sports personalities to support his case.

"It would beryllium awesome if Zinédine Zidane were to get progressive successful this fight,” said Gleizes' begetter successful law, Francis Godard.

Godard added that nan lawsuit was "a conflict for some state of nan property and nan world of football. Journalists are mobilised, arsenic we know, but we would for illustration nan sporting world to beryllium conscionable arsenic mobilised. Christophe is simply a sports journalist and is truthful willing successful nan business of sport. This concerns nan world of athletics very directly."

Although Gleizes has been tried and convicted, prosecutors person not publically announced nan charges and Algerian officials person not commented connected nan case.

Algerian authorities person been many times accused of utilizing anti-terrorism laws to target governmental reside by authorities advocates.

A lawsuit making love backmost to May 2024

Journalist and shot instrumentality Gleizes was arrested successful May 2024, aft travelling to Algeria to constitute a bid of articles, including a portion astir nan aureate era of nan Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie shot club, located successful nan Kabylia region.

On 28 May, Gleizes was arrested and placed nether judicial supervision for having entered Algeria connected a tourer visa, "glorifying terrorism," and "possessing propaganda publications harmful to nan nationalist interest," Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said past week, stating that nan charges were "unfounded."

According to RSF, nan charges stem from nan truth that Gleizes was successful interaction pinch a coach from nan Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK) shot club, located successful nan Kabylie region of Algeria.

The Algerian authorities opposes Kabylie independency and has cracked down connected groups backing it.

RSF reported that nan individual who Gleizes was successful touch with, happens to beryllium a starring fig successful nan Movement for nan Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), which was designated a violent organisation by nan Algerian authorities successful 2021. 

However, RSF added that "the first interactions betwixt Christopher Gleizes and nan individual successful mobility occurred successful 2015 and 2017, good earlier nan MAK was proscribed arsenic a violent entity."

Years later, successful 2024, successful mentation for his portion connected nan JSK shot club, Gleizes made interaction pinch nan individual again, nevertheless this is not thing which he concealed.

The French journalist's condemnation was handed down arsenic relations betwixt France and Algeria person reached caller lows. The 2 countries are sparring complete migration, extradition, waste and acquisition and France's alteration successful position complete nan position of nan disputed Western Sahara.