“Christophe Gleizes' place is not in prison, because the place of a journalist who is just doing his job is never in prison.”

LThe decision of the President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to release Boualem Sansal is clearly a source of joy for us, the relatives and friends of Christophe Gleizes, who understand very well the happiness of the writer’s family, who was released after almost a year in detention.

Also read | After writer Boualem Sansal was pardoned in Algeria, French journalist Christophe Gleizes’ release “hope”

But our Christophe is still in prison. He was arrested on May 28, 2024 in Algeria, before being released under judicial supervision with the obligation to report to the police every day and a ban on leaving the country. On June 29, he was sentenced to seven years in prison for his activities as a sports journalist. He is now waiting in his cell for the appeal hearing, which is scheduled to take place on December 3 in Tizi Ouzou.

We visited it three times, in August and mid-October. We have been assured of his health condition and the good conditions of his detention, but his place is not in prison, because the place of a journalist who is just doing his job is never in prison.

Life is on hold

We have always considered that only calming relations between France and Algeria could bring favorable results for Christophe and today we believe in this more than ever. We always respect the Algerian people. This is why we have always expressed ourselves with moderation and sincerely hope to continue doing so after December 3. Christophe is the only French journalist imprisoned in the world for his professional activities, although he has always expressed his friendship with the Algerian people.

Also read | Algeria: the appeal hearing against journalist Christophe Gleizes should open in a “more peaceful” climate.

We have full confidence in his attorney, Mr.^is Amirouche Bakouri and Emmanuel Daoud, to the point of making unreasonable accusations against Christophe. Since June 2024, we have benefited from the full support of Reporters Without Borders for Christophe’s defense, as well as from all his friends, who have created a huge chain of friendship around him and around us. What could we do without them? Our lives have been on hold for months. This trial and suffering must end.

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