The family of a French sports journalist sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria Ask for help to the sports and Zinedine Zidane.
Christophe Gleizes36 -year -old Freelance sports journalist was convicted last week for an interview with a football manager accused of links with a forbidden separatist movement, in a case that, according to the rights defense groups, criminalizes routine information.
Gleize was arrested and made to court more than a year ago for entering Algeria without the right visa, “Enlightenment of terrorism” and “possession of propaganda publications harmful to national interest,” reported reporters without borders last week.
Gleize's relatives were invited to speak on French television on Thursday night and asked sports personalities to support their case. “It would be great for Zinedine Zidane to get involved in this fight,” said Gleizes father -in -law, Francis Godardal canal France 2.
“After all, it is a case of corruption. It is a struggle for both press freedom and the world of football. Journalists are mobilized, as we know, but we would like the world of sport to be too. Christophe He is a sports journalist and, therefore, is interested in the sports business. This affects the world of sport very directly. ” Gleizes He was tried and convicted, although prosecutors have not publicly announced the positions and the Algerian authorities have not commented on the case.
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However, the authorities have faced the criticisms of defenders of the rights that claim that Algeria Use anti -terrorist laws to attack political expression. The Press Freedom Defense Group Reporters Without Borders has declared that charges against Gleizes They are derived from the contacts he had with the director of a football club, also a member of a political movement that Algeria described as a terrorist group four years ago.
The condemnation of the French journalist occurs at a time when the relations between France y Algeria They reach new levels of hostility. The two countries are discussing migration, extradition, commerce and the change in France's position on the status of the Western Sahara.
