In brief
At the 70‑year‑old Ballon d’Or awards in London, hosts Kate Scott and Thierry Henry dedicated the ceremony to French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is serving a seven‑year jail term in Algeria. Gleizes was arrested in May 2024 while covering a football club, Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie, in the Kabylie region – an area with strong ties to a banned movement. The Algerian government accused him of supporting terrorism, while Reporters Without Borders insists his contacts were purely journalistic. The event sparked a global call for Gleizes’ release, with a solidarity match set for 11 November, featuring former France players and Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire. The story unfolds amid tense France‑Algeria relations and rising concerns over press freedom in the region.
Ballon d’Or Spotlight: Journalist In Algerian Jail
During the 70‑year‑old Ballon d’Or awards held in London, hosts Kate Scott and Thierry Henry handed a special salute to 37‑year‑old French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is serving a seven‑year jail term in Algeria.
Gleizes was arrested in May 2024 while covering Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK), a top club in the Kabylie mountains east of Algiers. The region is home to the Amazigh people and supports the Movement for the Self‑Determination of Kabylie, which the Algerian authorities classified as a terrorist organisation in 2021.
Authorities say Gleizes possessed “publications harmful to national security” and had contacts with a JSK official linked to the banned movement. Reporters Without Borders points out that the exchanges were purely journalistic and pre‑dated the outlawing of the group.
In December, Gleizes admitted mistakes in his reporting and noted he should have obtained a journalist visa, not a tourist visa, before entering Algeria. He pleaded for mercy to reunite with his family.
The Ballon d’Or dedication has prompted a call for Gleizes’ release, with a solidarity football match planned for 11 November. Former France internationals Robert Pires and Vikash Dhorasoo, as well as Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, are expected to play.
The story reflects wider concerns over the prosecution of journalists in Algeria. Franco‑Algerian writer Boualem Sansal was sentenced to five years prison for undermining national security before receiving a pardon in 2025 after mediation by Germany’s president.
Tensions have risen between France and Algeria, especially after France recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in July 2024. Algeria supports the Polisario Front, a pro‑independence movement, which strained diplomatic ties. In May, France’s Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin visited Algiers, urging the Algerian authorities to allow Gleizes to reunite with his mother.
