The family of Christophe Gleizes, sentenced to seven years in prison and detained in Algeria, indicated on Tuesday that the French journalist had renounced his appeal to the Court of Cassation. “He relies completely on the clemency of President Tebboune,” explained his mother.

Published on: 05/05/2026 - 09:01 Modified on: 05/05/2026 - 10:12

French journalist Christophe Gleizes, sentenced to seven years in prison and detained in Algeria, renounces his appeal to the Supreme Court, paving the way for a possible pardon from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, his family announced Tuesday May 5 on France Inter.

“We have made a decision (...) that Christophe can withdraw his appeal,” declared the journalist’s mother, Sylvie Godard. “He is completely relying on the clemency of President Tebboune. It is a very strong, symbolic act,” she added.

The journalist's family also hopes that the current "climate of appeasement of relations between France and Algeria" works in favor of the journalist's release, added his father-in-law, Francis Godard.

“A new stage”

“If Christophe is in prison, it is also because of opposition and a climate of hostility between our two countries,” detailed Francis Godard. “I think we are reaching a new stage, in particular after the visit of Minister Nuñez” to Algeria, he continued.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez went to Algeria in mid-February, where he was received by President Tebboune. A trip which had made it possible to begin a thaw in bilateral relations between the two countries, plunged into a serious crisis since the summer of 2024.

Christophe Gleizes, sports journalist, was arrested as part of a report in May 2024 in Kabylia and sentenced on appeal, at the beginning of December, to seven years in prison for "apology of terrorism".

On Tuesday, his family said they were able to visit him on April 21 in Koléa prison, west of Algiers. "He's strong. And he makes us fight for him," his mother said.

The former socialist minister Ségolène Royal, who became president of the France-Algeria association, also visited him again on May 1. “She also found him in good shape,” added the journalist’s mother.

With AFP

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