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Algeria

  • Christian finds hope amid persecution

    Reading the experiences of
    Pastor Wurmbrand changed
    Azad’s view of persecution.
    Click herefor this and
    other resources.

    An evangelist in Algeria has recommitted himself to the Lord after struggling for months following some persecution for his faith. "Azad" had been a believer for several years, but became discouraged after his father chased him out of his family home, and his wife's family threatened to take her away if he continued to evangelize. A few months later, his boss fired him.

    Azad told a VOM worker, "I am so discouraged, and I feel hatred against God." He stopped reading his Bible or going to church. But one day, he asked a Christian friend for something to read. The Christian gave him "Tortured for Christ," a book written by VOM's founder Richard Wurmbrand about his experiences in prison. The book had a profound effect on Azad and he decided he could accept persecution for his faith. Azad understood something he couldn't see before: that he could accept the persecution he experienced as part of God's plan for his life.

    Thank God for ministering to Azad during his time of need. Ask the Lord to continue to encourage and strengthen Azad as he shares the Good News with others. Pray that many more Christians in Algeria and around the world will put their trust in God, regardless of their circumstances.

    Please visit the Algeria Country Report for more information on Algeria's persecuted Church.
  • Believer appeals prison sentence

    An Algerian Christian sentenced to five years in prison for "shaking the faith" of Muslims after sharing his faith is awaiting a decision on his appeal. The believer, "Kadar," who regularly shares his faith with Muslims in the city of Oran, was discussing his belief in Christ with a man at an outdoor food court last May when the man became angry and accused Kadar of insulting Muhammad. Police arrested Kadar and found a large amount of Christian materials in his apartment.

    After Kadar was convicted, the judge gave him the maximum sentence of five years in prison even though the prosecutor had recommended a lesser sentence. Kadar is now out on bail awaiting the decision. There are four other legal cases against Christians in Algeria being monitored by VOM.

    Please pray that the Lord will give believers undergoing persecution peace and strength, and even more opportunities to share the gospel. Ask the Lord to grant Kadar His peace during this time. Pray that the Church will continue to grow in Algeria.

    To read more about trials facing Algerian Christians, go to the Algeria Country Report.
  • Church ransacked in eastern Algeria

    The Protestant Church of Ouargla in eastern Algeria was vandalized by an unknown number of armed men on the evening of February 1. After the assailants broke through the gate, they ransacked the church building. "We heard noises on the terrace, but we could not get out because the threat was real. They could kill us," said Pastor Mourad, who was inside the building with his wife and children.

    The Church of Ouargla is the only church in the region and has been recognized by the government since its establishment in 1958. Pastor Mourad has been repeatedly threatened and attacked since being ordained as pastor in 2007. In the summer of 2009, his wife was beaten and seriously injured by a group of unknown men. Then, in late 2011, rubbish was thrown over the compound walls while an angry mob shouted death threats at Pastor Mourad.

    Pray the Lord will protect Pastor Mourad, his family and church members. Pray the believers will take heart and place their hope in Him. Ask the Lord to grow the Church in Algeria, in number and in faithfulness.

    Go to the Algeria Country Report for more on the trials believers face in Algeria.
  • Seven churches ordered to close

    Algerian Christians continue to baptize new believers despite pressure from the government and local Muslims.

    On May 22, the Governor of Bejaia informed the President of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA) that the seven churches in that province must close down because they do not comply with an ordinance from 2006 which regulates the exercise of religions other than Islam. The EPA churches cannot currently comply with these regulations because the Ministries of Interior and Religious Affairs have delayed responding to the EPA's application for registration. Without legal registration, the EPA cannot apply to register their churches as places of worship.

    Please pray the order to close down the churches will be withdrawn and that this practice will not spread to other parts of the country. Pray the 2006 law will be repealed or the necessary procedures implemented to allow the EPA to register. Pray, too, that all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.

    You can find out more about the persecuted Church in Algeria by visiting theAlgeria Country Report.
  • Christians arrested for proselytizing and blasphemy

    Two Algerian Christian men are scheduled to appear in court on charges of proselytizing and blasphemy. Sofiane and Krimo were arrested in Oran on April 14 after sharing their Christian faith with their neighbours. Sofiane was released a day after their arrest, while Krimo was imprisoned for three days. After the arrest, Algerian police searched Krimo's home for Bibles and other Christian material. Krimo was known to hold weekly prayer services at his home, which local Christians suspect were being closely monitored by the police. A court hearing, initially scheduled for April 27, was postponed to a later date.

    Algerian Christians are fearful that a law introduced in 2006 -- requiring religious services to obtain a government permit to worship -- will be applied, which may result in a five-year imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 Algerian dinars ($1,337 CAD). Church leadership has expressed frustration over the government's negligence to lay out a set procedure to register a church or to approve a permit quickly.

    Please pray for a favourable outcome for Sofiane and Krimo at the next court hearing. Pray the Lord will use this case and their testimony to encourage the faith of other believers in Algeria. Pray those in authority will recognize the lack of religious freedoms in the country and make changes accordingly.

    To read more about trials facing Algerian Christians, go to theAlgeria Country Report.
  • Christians sentenced for setting up ''illegal'' place of worship

    Four Christians were recently given suspended prison sentences for opening a place of worship in the eastern region of Kabylia, Algeria, without a proper license issued by authorities. The Christians -- a Protestant clergyman and three of his parishioners -- were convicted on the basis of a controversial 2006 law that requires that anyone who wants to set up a place of worship, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, must obtain a permit indicating the name of the place of worship as well as that of the pastor. Some believe this law violates Algeria's constitution, and this is first time it has been enforced in the nation.

    Three of the men -- Abdenour Raid, Nacer Mokrani and Idir Haoudj -- received two-month prison sentences. The fourth man, Pastor Mahmoud Yahou, was sentenced to three months in jail and fined almost $3,600 CAN for illegally sheltering a foreigner.

    Pray for endurance of faith for these four believers as they face opposition. Pray that they will look to God, knowing that their lives and ministries are in His hands. Pray that the ministry of churches in Algeria will continue and that the gospel will be preached throughout the nation.

    Please visit theAlgeria Country Report for more information on the plight of believers in Algeria.
  • Christians face court

    On October 5, a court in the Kabylie region of Algeria acquitted Christian converts Hocine Hocini and Salem Fellak of the charge of "non-compliance with a precept of Islam." They had been arrested for eating lunch during Ramadan. During this and an earlier trial, hundreds of concerned citizens and civil society groups stood alongside Christians in a display of public solidarity to protest growing intolerance and abuse of power.

    On October 10, four Protestant leaders will face court on the charge of "practicing non-Muslim worship without authorization." The fellowship led by Pastor Yahou Mahmoud and elders Raid Abdenour, Mokrani Nacer and Haouedj Idir is affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria, a large nationally accredited denomination. (Source: Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission)

    Thank the Lord for the outcome for Hocine Hocini and Salem Fellak, and for the support from the many citizens across the nation. Pray the Lord will be with the church leaders who will soon face court. May they speak with confidence as the Lord gives them the right words when they are questioned (Matthew 10: 19-20). Pray the Lord will use this case to strengthen His church and further the Gospel in Algeria.

    Please visit theAlgeria Country Report for more information on the plight of believers in Algeria.
  • Muslims block Christmas service

    Approximately 50 Muslims blocked a congregation of converts from Islam from holding a Christmas service in the city of Tizi-Ouzou, northern Algeria on December 26. Members of the Tafat Church were gathering for the meeting when they were confronted by protestors who barred the church building's doors. "This land is the land of Islam! Go pray somewhere else," some of the protestors allegedly said. The pastor was also threatened with death. The protestors stayed outside the church until December 28. Some of them broke into the new building and stole microphones and speakers. The building's electricity was also cut off.

    The believers, who used to meet together in a small rented building, have been gathering in a new building since November to accommodate nearly 350 congregants. A few weeks before the Christmas service attack, community residents signed a petition saying they did not want the church to operate near their homes and wanted it to close. Local authorities presented the petition to the church, which is legally authorized to exist under the Protestant Church of Algeria, but the believers reportedly do not plan to respond to the document. (Source: Compass Direct)

    Pray that these Christians will remain committed to their faith. Pray that freedom of religion will be upheld by Algerian officials. Pray that the ministry of churches in Algeria will continue and that the Gospel will be preached throughout the nation.

    For more on the suffering of believers in Algeria,click here.
  • Update: Algerian Christians acquitted


    Rachid
    Muhammad Essaghir
    Photo from
    Compass Direct

    On October 29, a court in Ain El-Turck, northwestern Algeria acquitted Rachid Muhammad Essinger and two other Christian leaders who were charged with blasphemy in February (click here). According to a report from Middle East Concern, the men were declared innocent because the evidence brought against them was fabricated. The Christians were informed that they could bring their accuser to court for his slanderous accusations, but they chose instead to forgive him. Local Christians hope that the ruling will set a legal precedence for other wrongly accused Christians in the country. In recent months, negative international attention on the discrimination of Christians in Algeria has reportedly improved the government's treatment of believers.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Algeria,click here.
  • Algerian Christians Sentenced for ''Illegally'' Spreading their Faith
     

    Rachid Muhammad Essaghir, one of the Christians found guilty
    Photo from    Compass Direct

    In early June, Rachid Muhammad Essaghir and Djallal Dhamani were among four Christian converts from Islam given suspended sentences and fined by an Algerian court for seeking to convert Muslims to Christianity (click here here for more details). On July 2, the two were tried for a second time by a court in western Algeria and given six-month suspended sentences along with fines of 100,000-dinar (1,690 CAD) for "distributing documents to shake the faith of Muslims." They reportedly plan to appeal the sentence.

    For more information on the increasing persecution of Christians in Algeria, go to the Algeria Country Report.

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