A French journalist is facing seven years in prison in Algeria over an interview with a soccer official accused of ties to a banned separatist movement, in a case rights groups say criminalizes routine reporting.

French journalists' unions on Tuesday called on Algeria to release a French football writer who has been jailed for seven years for supporting terrorism. Christophe Gleizes, who is 36, was sentenced on Sunday, after being found guilty of holding exchanges with a proponent of self-determination for Algeria's Kabyle minority.

Algerian authorities have sentenced a French sports journalist, known for his coverage of African football, to seven years in prison on charges of "gloriying terrorism", according to media rights