France, May 19 -- Speaking on CNews and Europe 1 radio on Tuesday, following a two-day visit to Algiers, Darmanin said French officials had urged the Algerian authorities to allow Gleizes to reunite "not with France, but with his mother".

The minister added that he believed President Tebboune "will be receptive" to the request, saying he trusted the Algerian leader "on this point".

Gleizes, a sports journalist detained in Algeria for nearly a year, was arrested while reporting in the Kabylie region of north-eastern Algeria in May 2024. He was subsequently sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of "glorifying terrorism".

Darmanin travelled to Algeria at the request of the French president to discuss Gleizes's case as well as broa...