The Ballon d’Or awards ceremony, held in London, used its platform to draw attention to the detention of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes. Presenters Kate Scott and Thierry Henry dedicated the prestigious football event to the 37-year-old reporter, displaying information about his incarceration on a large screen alongside the hashtag “#FreeGleize.”
Gleizes was arrested during a trip to Algeria in May 2024 while working on a story about Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie, a major football club based in the Kabylie region. Authorities charged him with possessing publications deemed harmful to national security, with prosecutors alleging connections to the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie, which Algeria designated as a terrorist organization in 2021. The journalist maintains that his contacts were journalistic in nature, and some predated the organization’s designation as a terrorist group. He is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence.
During his appeal hearing, Gleizes acknowledged errors in his approach, noting he should have obtained a journalist visa rather than entering on a tourist visa. He appealed to the court for mercy to be reunited with his family. Press freedom advocates, including Reporters Without Borders, contend the case reflects broader concerns about prosecutions of writers and public figures in Algeria.
The Ballon d’Or’s recognition of Gleizes’s case came as diplomatic efforts continued to secure his release. France’s Justice Minister visited Algiers in May and appealed to authorities to allow Gleizes to return to his family. Reporters Without Borders has organized a solidarity football match scheduled for November 11, featuring former French international players and other prominent figures.
Gleizes’s imprisonment reflects wider tensions between France and Algeria, including disputes over diplomatic relations and regional matters such as Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. His case has drawn international attention to concerns regarding press freedom and the treatment of journalists in the country.
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