In a move that has drawn international criticism, a court in Algeria has sentenced Christophe Gleizes, a French sports journalist, to seven years in prison. The charges against Gleizes include “glorifying terrorism” and “possessing propaganda publications harmful to the national interest.” The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) relayed this distressing development earlier this week.

Gleizes, a contributor to notable French publications such as *So Foot* and *Society*, was arrested on May 28, 2024, while in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria. His arrest followed an interview with the president of the local football club JS Kabylie, who is purportedly linked to the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), a group Algeria designated as a terrorist organization in 2021. Details of Gleizes' detention remained under wraps until the announcement of his sentencing on June 29.

“Sentencing French journalist Christophe Gleizes to seven years in prison on terrorism charges over an interview is a clear indication of the government’s intolerance of press freedom,” stated Sara Qudah, CPJ’s regional director. The organization has called for his immediate and unconditional release. Meanwhile, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has described the ruling as “harsh” and is seeking consular access to assist Gleizes.

This case is part of a larger pattern of suppressing dissent in Algeria. Earlier this year, Amnesty International advocated for the release of Mohamed Tadjadit, a poet and activist currently serving a five-year sentence for his critical social media posts and poems. The charges were condemned as politically motivated, and Amnesty called for an end to the criminalization of peaceful expression. Human Rights Watch also highlighted a rise in arbitrary travel bans imposed on Algerian activists and critics of the government. These bans are often executed without any formal charges or explanations, contributing to what rights groups see as an escalating pattern of repression.

Additionally, this week, the Algiers Court of Appeal upheld a five-year prison sentence for French-Algerian writer and government critic Boualem Sansal. This decision further underscores the ongoing concerns regarding free speech and human rights in Algeria.

The developments involving Gleizes and others signal an alarming trend of governmental hostility toward journalists and activists, which continues to draw scrutiny from international human rights organizations and governments worldwide. As these situations unfold, the global community watches closely, calling for reforms and the safeguarding of freedom of expression in Algeria.