Tags

Algeria

• Christians Found ''Guilty'' for Seeking to Convert Muslims

  Djillali Saibi, One of the Christians found guilty Photo fromCompass Direct

  Four of the six Christians detained by police while leaving a prayer meeting in Tiaret on May 9 (click here for more details) were given suspended sentences and fined by an Algerian court on June 3 for seeking to convert Muslims to Christianity, according to a June 3 report from Compass Direct. The court gave Rachid Muhammad Essaghir a six-month suspended sentence and a 200,000-dinar fine ($3,282 CAD). He was originally charged with "distributing documents to shake the faith of Muslims." Chabane Beikel, Abdelhak Rebeih and Djillali Saibi were each given two-month suspended sentences and 100,000-dinar ($1,640 CAD) fines. The two other believers on trial, Mohamed Khene and Abdelkader Hori, were acquitted.

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

   

• Christian Faces Three Years in Prison for Carrying Bibles Habiba Kouider, an Algerian Christian, could soon be sentenced to three years in prison for carrying Bibles and other Christian books while traveling on a public bus from Tiaret to Oran, Algeria, according to a May 23 report from Compass Direct. Habiba was first detained by police on March 29. The police freed her after detaining her for 24 hours, but ordered her to appear in court in the city of Tiaret on May 7. The court, however, delayed her case until May 20. During the initial hearing, the public prosecutor accused her of practicing "non-Muslim worship without authorization" and demanded that the court sentence her to three years in prison. In the same hearing, the prosecutor also pressured Habiba to renounce Christ, promising "to drop the case if she reinstated Islam."

  Pray for Habiba to remain strong in her faith in Christ regardless of the cost. Ask God to embolden Algerian Christians to continue sharing Christ's love and grace despite opposition from the authorities.
  
  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Algeria, readAlgeria's Country Report.

• Six Christians Charged Algerian authorities have charged six Christians with distributing "illegal religious material" after detaining them as they left a prayer meeting at a western city on May 9, according to a May 15 report from Compass Direct. Prior to the Christians' release from detention in Tiaret, they were charged with "distributing documents to shake the faith of Muslims." During their overnight stay at a local police station, officers repeatedly threatened the believers with violence for converting from Islam to Christianity. The first court hearing is scheduled for May 27.

  Pray for these Algerian Christians to find peace in Christ in the midst of pressure and opposition for their faith in Him (Philippians 4:7). Pray that God will embolden Christians in Algeria to spread the Gospel in their nation.

  For more information on the persecution facing Algeria's Christians, visitAlgeria's Country Report.

• Christian Sentenced for Carrying a Bible An Algerian Christian detained for five days for carrying a Bible and personal Bible study books was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a $460 CAD fine on April 29, according to a May 9 report from Compass Direct. A court in Djelfa, 240 km south of Algiers, charged the 33-year-old Christian who converted from Islam with "printing, storing and distributing illegal religious material." The believer, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told fellow Christians in his home city of Tiaret that police pressured him to return to Islam while in custody.

  The conviction is the latest in a wave of detentions and court cases against Algeria's Christians. Since January, police and provincial officials have ordered the closure of up to half of the country's 50 estimated Christian congregations.

  Pray for the Algerian Christian to find joy and peace in Christ in the midst of opposition for his allegiance to Christ (Acts 5:41). Pray that God will embolden Algerian Christians to spread the Gospel in their nation.

  For more information about persecution facing Christians in Algeria, visitAlgeria's Country Report.

• Christian Sentenced in Algeria An Algerian Christian was handed a two-year suspended sentence on April 9 for giving a Bible to an undercover police officer, according to an April 10 report from Compass Direct. The written verdict convicting the Christian for "proselytism" was delivered on April 2 by a court in Tiaret, 150 miles southwest of Algiers.

  The believer, who wished to remain anonymous, gave the Bible to the policeman who posed as someone interested in Christianity and insisted in obtaining a copy of the Scriptures. He plans to appeal the suspended sentence, which includes a fine of 100,000 dinars ($1540 CAD).

  Ask God to give peace and boldness to this believer during this time (Philippians 4:5-7). Continue to pray for the Church in Algeria as it faces ongoing opposition for the sake of Christ.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Algeria, vistAlgeria's Country Report.

• Update on Church Closures in Algeria Last week, Algerian authorities ordered more churches to cease activity, according to a March 28 report from Compass Direct. Three churches, registered under the Protestant Church of Algeria, and two independent congregations were ordered to close their doors. Congregations in Ait Amar, Ait Djemaa, Bachloul, Boughni, Ouargla, Tiaret and Tizi Ouzou are among the churches closed. A total of 19 churches have been closed in the nation since November.

  Please continue to pray for the Body of Christ in Algeria as it faces ongoing opposition for His Name. More details on the closure of churches in Algeria are available in Algeria's Country Report.

• Churches Ordered to Cease Activity On March 9, police ordered two Algerian churches to cease activity, according to a March 17 report from Compass Direct. Police notified Pastor Salah Chalah to close his 1200 member Full-Gospel Church in Tizi Ouzou, 100 kilometers east of the capital Algiers. Similarly, security officials issued notice to a second pastor, Mustapha Krireche, to close down his church in Tizi Ouzou's Nouvelle Ville district.

  The written closure notice demanded that the churches conform to articles of a law governing non-Muslim worship but did not make clear how the churches had violated it. Passed two years ago, the law forbids attempts to convert Muslims to other religions and bans the production of media intended to "shake the faith of a Muslim." According to Compass Direct, as all Algerian Christians are converts from Islam, the new law could be interpreted to make nearly all churches in the country illegal. The Algerian government has ordered 10 churches closed since November.

  Pray that the leaders and members of these churches will find peace and comfort in Christ as they face opposition for His Name. Ask God to provide wisdom and guidance to the leaders of the churches to find ways to nurture their congregations, and equip them to share the message of Christ with the lost (Hebrews 10:23-25).

  Learn more about the increasing pressure being put on Algerian Christians in Algeria's Country Report.

• Update on Christians Facing Sentencing In February, Middle East Concern (MEC) requested prayer from Christians around the world on behalf of Christians facing court hearings and awaiting official verdicts in Algeria (click here for more information). On March 4, they requested prayer for three items. First, one Christian brother had a court hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 5. The believer concerned had been told informally that he would be sentenced to one year in prison and fined. On March 6, MEC happily reported that he had been acquitted.

  According to MEC, two other items require your prayers. The written verdicts for three Christian men accused of insulting Islam was expected on February 12 but has still not been received. They have been told informally that they will be sentenced to prison and fined. Another brother has a hearing scheduled for April 2.

  Christians in Algeria ask that we continue to pray that our three brothers awaiting a written verdict will not be sentenced to jail and that the brother involved in the hearing on April 2 will be acquitted. Please pray that the media attention will have a positive impact on the church, drawing more people to respond to the love and truth of Jesus. Pray also that fellowships recently closed in Algeria will be allowed to reopen and that believers will find worship and fellowship with others. Pray that God will provide pastors for the groups of Christian migrant workers in the country. Finally, pray that Algerian officials will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and respond to His love.

  To learn more about the increasing pressure being put on Christians in Algeria, go to theAlgeria Country Report.

• Believers Face Increasing Uncertainty Last week, Christian leaders in Algeria requested prayer following several recent incidents that threaten the religious rights of Algerian Christians (click here for more details). One of these incidents was the case of three believers accused of insulting Islam. A written sentence for this case was expected on February 12. According to a February 14 report from Middle East Concern, however, the sentence was not issued. Local believers have not heard when the verdict is expected.

  In another incident causing concern for Christian ministry in the country, on January 30 the tribunal of Oran city sentenced a priest to one year in prison for leading a prayer service in a private home in late December. Father Wallez was accused by Algerian authorities of conducting religious ceremonies among Cameroonian migrants in a place not designated for such purposes. He was the first victim convicted of violating a legislation approved in March 2006 regarding the exercise of the practices of non-Muslim worship in Algeria. The tribunal issued the sentence and subsequently commuted it to parole.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Algeria, visit theAlgeria Country Report.

• Christians Under Increased Pressure

  Christian leaders in Algeria have asked for international support following several recent incidents that threaten the human rights, and especially the religious rights, of Christians in the country, according to a February 7 report from Middle East Concern. Believers are under pressure in the following three ways: