The parents of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is currently imprisoned in Algeria, are appealing for assistance from Germany. Sylvie and Francis Godard sent a letter to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, urgently requesting that this case be brought up during the talks scheduled with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Berlin this Thursday, according to “Bild.”
In their emotional appeal, the parents stated: “We are asking you with all the strength of a family desperately waiting to hold their son and grandson again, to address the fate of Christophe Gleizes during your discussions with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.” They added that such an action could “contribute decisively to making possible a humanitarian and merciful solution, which we have been waiting for over two years so that Christophe can return to his family and his journalistic work.”
Despite having always expressed “respect for Algeria,” the family says they stopped pursuing further legal action since March to allow for a possible pardon by Tebboune. However, they report facing “complete silence from the Algerian authorities concerning Christophe’s fate” since that time.
Gleizes was arrested in Algeria in May 2024 while conducting research for the local football club Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK) in Kabylie. He was subsequently convicted by a court to seven years in prison for alleged “glorification of terrorism.” His family and legal counsel deny the charges, asserting that the motive behind his arrest is political.
