Three weeks before the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the International Press Institute (IPI) calls on the Algerian government to immediately release French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, and urges FIFA and the sports community to step up support for press freedom.听
Gleizes, who contributes to the publication So Foot and Society, was arrested in May 2024 while on a reporting trip to Algeria’s Kabylia region to cover Algerian football club JS Kabylie, the country鈥檚 most successful football team.
He was charged with 鈥済lorifying terrorism鈥� and 鈥減ossessing propaganda publications鈥� after he interviewed the who is accused of supporting a group designated as a terrorist organisation by the Algerian government. 骋濒别颈锄别蝉鈥� lawyer has 鈥渂aseless鈥� and politically motivated.
After more than a year under 鈥渏udicial control,” during which he could not leave the country, Gleizes was sentenced to seven years in prison in June 2025. The French government over 骋濒别颈锄别蝉鈥� sentencing and has repeatedly .听
骋濒别颈锄别蝉鈥� in December 2025 following an appeal trial.听
IPI鈥檚 call for 骋濒别颈锄别蝉鈥� release comes amid a between France and Algeria. Earlier this week, French justice minister G茅rald Darmanin visited to discuss judicial cooperation between the two countries and the status of Gleizes. Following the visit, Darmanin said he was “very reassured” by his conversations with Algerian authorities about 骋濒别颈锄别蝉鈥� case.听
In the hopes of securing a presidential pardon, Gleizes of his conviction earlier this month. Following the withdrawal of his appeal, 骋濒别颈锄别蝉鈥� mother said the journalist had put 鈥渉is complete trust in President Tebboune鈥檚 clemency鈥�.
Next month, France and Algeria will both compete in this year鈥檚 FIFA World Cup. During 骋濒别颈锄别蝉鈥� December appeal, a appeared in the Tizi鈥慜uzou courtroom, signalling concern for 骋濒别颈锄别蝉鈥� case. In April, RC Lens, a Ligue 1 French football club, played an in a show of support for Gleizes.听聽
During a ceremony in honour of World Press Freedom Day on May 3 presided over by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Algeria鈥檚 minister of communication the role of press freedom as 鈥渘ot only a fundamental right of journalists,鈥� but also 鈥渁n essential pillar of our democratic process,鈥� noting the president鈥檚 efforts to support freedom of expression.
鈥淚PI calls on President Tebboune to back up his government鈥檚 pledges to support press freedom with real, concrete actions, starting with the immediate release of Christophe Gleizes with all charges dropped,鈥� said IPI Director of Advocacy Amy Brouillette. 鈥淎head of the World Cup鈥檚 start, Algerian authorities must capitalise on this opportunity to make a good-faith gesture in support of independent journalism, allow Christophe to return home to his family, and cease the weaponisation of Algeria鈥檚 legal system against the independent media.”