Algerian Journalist Mehdi Ghezzar Arrested in Paris and Released After Several Hours – AL24 News

Algerian journalist, commentator, and editorial writer for the international channel AL24 News, Mehdi Ghezzar, was released on Wednesday morning after being detained by French police near his residence in Paris. Ghezzar told AL24 News that he had been held for several hours before being freed, describing the incident as yet another episode in a series of pressures he has faced in France.

Ghezzar was recently removed from the airwaves of the French radio station RMC, where he had been one of the most prominent and widely followed voices on the program “Les Grandes Gueules.” His exclusion is tied to his outspoken positions on the genocide in Gaza and his unequivocal support for the Palestinian people. He noted that he frequently faces difficulties passing through Parisian airports, where he is systematically stopped by authorities, yet he remains recognized for his frank and courageous commentary on Gaza — perspectives that are often minimized or ignored by much of the Western media.

The journalist’s brief arrest is widely viewed as a further act of intimidation by French authorities toward journalists who challenge the narrative promoted by mainstream media, which critics accuse of being influenced by certain political and economic circles and of uncritically adopting the position of the Zionist entity. This episode highlights the contradictions surrounding press freedom in France, a country that prides itself on defending this core value. It exposes the gap between official rhetoric — which champions openness and respect for journalistic work — and a reality marked by practices many see as serious infringements on the freedom of the press.