French Journalist Christophe Gleizes of So Foot Sentenced to 7 Years in Algeria for Terrorism Charges Linked to Kabylie Reporting

Christophe Gleizes, a 36-year-old French sports journalist known for his work with the magazine So Foot, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by Algerian authorities. The conviction, announced in late June and confirmed in early July 2025, charges Gleizes with "apologie du terrorisme" (glorifying terrorism). The sentence stems from Gleizes' contacts in 2015 and 2017 with a leader of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie, a banned separatist group, during his reporting on the JS Kabylie football club in the Kabyle region. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), So Press (Gleizes' employer), and the French government have condemned the ruling, describing it as unjust and politically motivated.

The case had remained largely under the radar until its recent public disclosure. French officials and press freedom advocates have criticized the verdict as an attempt by the Algerian regime to silence criticism and exert pressure on France amid ongoing tensions between the two countries. In a related development, Algerian courts have also upheld a five-year prison sentence on appeal for Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, highlighting a broader pattern of judicial actions against French nationals in Algeria.