Christophe Gleizes, a well-known French sports journalist who was sentenced in Algeria for “glorifying terrorism,” has lodged an appeal against his seven-year prison term, as disclosed by his lawyer to AFP on Monday.
“I have just submitted an appeal” to the Tizi Ouzou Court, stated lawyer Salah Brahimi, referring to the location where Gleizes has been held since his conviction on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Gleizes, who focuses on African football and writes for So Foot magazine, had travelled to Tizi Ouzou to cover the local team, Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie, which is named after the Kabylia region of Algeria, home to the Amazigh Kabyle people.
His arrest occurred in May 2024, leading to judicial control which restricted his ability to leave the country, according to Reporters Without Borders.
The organisation indicated that Gleizes had previously interacted with a football figure from Tizi Ouzou linked to the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), which was designated a terrorist group by Algerian authorities in 2021.
On Sunday, Algerian officials sentenced him to seven years for “glorifying terrorism” and “holding publications intended for propaganda that are detrimental to national interest,” stated advocates for media rights.
His lawyer anticipates that the appeal could be addressed as early as October.
Gleizes’ imprisonment occurs amid escalating tensions between Algeria and France, its former colonial ruler.
In November, Algeria arrested and imprisoned French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal on national security allegations, disregarding President Emmanuel Macron’s calls for his release.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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