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Document #2133637
RSF – Reporters Sans Frontières (Author)
Nearly 30 prominent figures from the world of French sports and culture, including sports reporters, TV presenters, former footballers, rugby players, basketball players and musicians, have joined in demanding the immediate release of Christophe Gleizes, a French reporter for the Society and So Foot media outlets who has been detained in Algeria for the past five months and has been given a seven-year prison sentence just for doing his job. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reiterates its call to the highest Algerian authorities to end his detention.
Jean-Michel Aphatie, Benjamin Biolay, Denis Brogniart, Vikash Dhorasoo, Boris Diaw and Raï are among the 28 personalities who got together to voice their support for Christophe Gleizes and demand his immediate release. In a joint video, these reporters, presenters and performers remind viewers that “journalism is not a crime” and that Christophe Gleizes does not belong in prison. A freelance contributor to the Society and So Foot media outlets, Christophe Gleizes is well known in France for his coverage of soccer and sports in general.
“Five months in detention for a journalist who was just doing his job is five months too many. The public support from the media, sports, football and cultural sectors shows that this conviction is incomprehensible and unacceptable. We must join forces to secure the immediate release of Christophe Gleizes.”
Unprecedented support from world of sport, media and culture
This video is part of a campaign led by the Gleizes family, the So Press group and RSF that has included the creation of a support committee, an online petition and public campaigning. It aims to maintain attention and pressure on the Algerian authorities and to reiterate the urgent need for this journalist’s release. RSF calls on all stakeholders – media outlets, sports clubs, federations, performers, politicians and citizens – to share the video and help amplify the #FreeGleizes campaign.
List of well-known figures featured in the video
Jean Michel Aphatie, journalist
Grégory Ascher, presenter
Karim Baldé, sports reporter
Enki Bilal, author and director
Benjamin Biolay, musician and singer
Flavien Bories, journalist
Swann Borsellino, sports reporter
Denis Brogniart, presenter
Emmanuel Chain, journalist and producer
Pia Clemens, sports reporter
Syanie Dalmat, sports reporter
Vikash Dhorasoo, former professional footballer
Boris Diaw, former professional basketball player
Vincent Duluc, journalist
Régis Dupont, sports reporter
Samuel Etienne, reporter and presenter
Ambre Godillon, sports reporter
Nathan Gourdol, sports reporter
Hugo Guillemet, sports reporter
Sofiane Guitoune, professional rugby player
Tiffany Henne, sports reporter
Bertrand Lagacherie, sports reporter
Claude Le Roy, former professional footballer and coach
Hervé Mathoux, sports reporter
Hervé Penot, sports reporter
Eric Rabesandratana, former professional footballer
Raï, former professional footballer
Bruno Salomon, sports reporter
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