French journalist imprisoned in Algeria, Christophe Glez, has taken the decision to withdraw his appeal against his seven-year prison sentence before the Court of Cassation, hoping to obtain a pardon from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, according to what his family announced. Two presidential pardon requests for Glez were rejected, one in December and the other in February. But the family hopes that “the current climate of calming relations between France and Algeria” will contribute to his release, according to his mother, Sylvie Godard. Glez was sentenced in June on charges of "promoting terrorism."

Published on: 05/05/2026 - 11:00

French journalist Christophe Gleize, imprisoned in Algeria, decided to waive his right to appeal his seven-year prison sentence in the hope of obtaining a presidential pardon, according to what his mother announced on Tuesday. Glez was sentenced in June to seven years in prison on charges of "promoting terrorism."

Sylvie Godard, Glez's mother, said on France Inter radio that the family had made the decision "so that Christophe will be able to withdraw his appeal before the Court of Cassation, and therefore he places full confidence in the pardon of President (Algerian Abdelmadjid) Tebboune."

She added: "It is a very powerful and symbolic act, and we really appreciate that President Tebboune realizes that it is now necessary to grant a pardon to Christophe."

Gleize's family also hopes that "the current climate of calming relations between France and Algeria" will contribute to his release, his stepfather, Francis Godard, added. Francis Godard considered that Christophe Glez's presence in prison was "also due to the differences and climate of hostility between our two countries." He considered, "We are entering a new phase, especially after Minister Nunez's visit to Algeria."

Softening relations between France and Algeria

Glez had filed an appeal before the Court of Cassation last December, after his seven-year prison sentence was upheld on charges of “promoting terrorism” and “possessing publications for propaganda purposes that harm the national interest.” Two presidential pardon requests were rejected, one in December and the other last February.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez visited Algeria in mid-February, where he was received by President Tebboune. This visit contributed to the beginning of a softening of bilateral relations between the two countries, which have been experiencing a severe diplomatic crisis since the summer of 2024.

Read also: Algerian-French relations: What Laurent Nunez is doing shows the failure of his predecessor Bruno Rotayo’s method

Glez works as a freelance sports journalist for So Foot and Society (So Press Group) magazines. He was arrested in May 2024 and placed under judicial supervision while preparing a report on the JS Kabylie Football Club in Tizi Ouzou.

The Algerian authorities accuse the French journalist of holding meetings with members of the Movement for the Self-Determination of the Kabylie Region, which it classifies as a "terrorist organization."

With AFP

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