Christophe Gleizes, a well-known French sports journalist, has lodged an appeal against his seven-year prison sentence in Algeria for “glorifying terrorism”, as confirmed by his lawyer to AFP.
Lawyer Salah Brahimi stated, “I have just submitted an appeal” to the Tizi Ouzou Court, the location where the journalist has been held since his conviction was handed down on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Gleizes, who focuses on African football and writes for So Foot magazine, travelled to Tizi Ouzou to cover the local football team, Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie, which is named after Algeria’s Kabylia region, home to the Amazigh Kabyle community.
He was apprehended in May 2024 and subsequently placed under judicial supervision, which barred him from leaving the country, according to Reporters Without Borders.
The organisation reported that Gleizes had interacted with a notable Tizi Ouzou football figure associated with the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), labelled a terrorist group by the Algerian government in 2021.
On Sunday, Algerian authorities sentenced him to seven years for “glorifying terrorism” and “possessing publications for propaganda purposes detrimental to national interests”, as reported by media rights advocates.
His lawyer mentioned that he anticipates the appeal hearing could take place as early as October.
The incarceration of Gleizes occurs amid escalating tensions between Algeria and France, its former colonial ruler.
In November, Algeria arrested French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal on charges related to national security, ignoring appeals from President Emmanuel Macron for his release.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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