Algeria

The family is the source of greatest pressure for Christians in Algeria, most of whom are converts from Muslim backgrounds. Pressure also comes from the law. A 2006 law, forbidding public assembly for purposes of practising a faith other than Islam, has created a more restrictive environment for Christians. This affects most Christian places of worship, except for Catholic churches and one Protestant church. In addition, Islamist movements such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb are increasingly making their presence felt.

Algeria: two more churches closed, others threatened

March 1, 2018 Aïn Turk, Algeria, Churches, Kabylie, North Africa, Oran, Proselytism, Protestant Church of Algeria, Religious freedom, Tizi Ouzou

Local authorities in Algeria’s north-western city of Oran have closed two more churches amidst growing pressure on Christians in the Maghreb country. The two churches – L’Oratoire (The Oratory) in Oran’s city centre, and a village church in Layayda (about 40km from Oran) – were sealed off by police on […]

‘Intensified campaign’ against Algeria’s churches

January 3, 2018 Aïn Turk, Algeria, Bejaia, Churches, Kabylie, Oran, Protestant Church of Algeria, Tizi Ouzou

Churches and individual Christians in Algeria have faced increased restrictions in recent months, raising concerns that these pressures signal a “coordinated campaign of intensified action against churches by the governing authorities”, according to Christian advocacy group Middle East Concern. On 19 December, three Christians were arrested in Chlef, 200km north-west […]

Algerian church closed for ‘illegally printing Bibles and material intended for evangelism’

November 20, 2017 Aïn Turk, Algeria, Bibles, Churches, Oran, Proselytism, Protestant Church of Algeria

A church in Algeria’s north-western town of Aïn Turk (15km from Oran city) has been closed down by local authorities. The church, affiliated to the Protestant Church of Algeria (known as EPA, its French acronym), was sealed off by police on 9 November. Authorities in Oran claimed the church had […]

Algeria: ‘unjust law’ still denying churches their ‘right to worship’

October 19, 2017 Algeria, Algiers, Mâatkas, Protestant Church of Algeria, Religion Law, Tizi Ouzou

Churches in northern Algeria continue to clash with the authorities over permission to hold services in non-religious buildings. Authorities in Tizi Ouzou province – 100km east of the capital, Algiers – have said a 2006 law that regulates non-Muslim worship is breached by churches meeting in houses meant only for […]

Algerian Christian on hunger strike after parole rejected

October 11, 2017 Algeria, Bejaia, Blasphemy, Constantine, Jijel, Kabylie, MAK, Setif, Slimane Bouhafs

Slimane Bouhafs has been released after 18 months in prison for alleged blasphemy on Facebook. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

An Algerian court has rejected a parole application for Slimane Bouhafs, an Algerian Christian jailed for five years for blasphemy in September 2016, despite his deteriorating health. Bouhafs heard the news on 2 October while in prison in the coastal city of Jijel, 300km east of the capital, Algiers, and […]

Jailed Algerian Christian receives partial presidential pardon

July 12, 2017 Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Bejaia, Berbers, Blasphemy, Constantine, Jijel, Kabylie, MAK, Setif, Slimane Bouhafs, Tizi Ouzou

A Christian imprisoned for three years for “insulting Islam and the prophet Muhammad” in his social media posts has received a partial presidential pardon. Slimane Bouhafs, who converted to Christianity from Islam in 1997, was arrested almost a year ago (31 July 2016) for posting a message on social media […]

Fears for imprisoned Algerian Christian as Ramadan begins

May 26, 2017 Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Bejaia, Berbers, Constantine, Jijel, Kabylie, MAK, Ramadan, Setif, Slimane Bouhafs

As Ramadan begins, the daughter of an Algerian Christian serving three years in jail for “insulting Islam and the prophet Muhammad” on Facebook says she’s worried about the abuse her father could suffer after he was transferred to a third different prison. Slimane Bouhafs, who is eight months into his […]

A year in prison for Algerian Christian for Facebook post

January 12, 2017 Algeria, Berbers, Blasphemy, Setif, Slimane Bouhafs

An Algerian Christian has been sentenced to a year in prison for a post he made on Facebook. On 8 January, the court in Bouira (100 km east of Algiers) found Samir Chamek, 34, guilty of insulting Islam and its prophet over items he posted on his Facebook page. Samir says […]

Algerian converts denied Christian funerals

November 4, 2016 Burial, Kabylie, Protestant Church of Algeria, Tizi Ouzou

Christian cemetery in Algiers.Joseph McGonagle / Flickr / Creative Commons When someone close to us dies, emotions are difficult enough…imagine if then, on top, you couldn’t ‘say goodbye’ in the way that would honour them and bring comfort to the grieving. That is the situation for many Christians when […]

UPDATE: Protests in Algeria for release of sick Christian

November 4, 2016 Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Berbers, Blasphemy, Constantine, Kabylie, MAK, Setif, Slimane Bouhafs

Bouhafs’ family said seeking a presidential pardon is a ‘last resort and the only possible solution to set him free’.World Watch Monitor Protesters in Algeria have called for the release of Slimane Bouhafs, an evangelical Christian jailed for three years in September for “insulting Islam and the prophet Mohammed” in […]

Newer Articles 1 2 3 4 5 Older Articles

Catching Our Eye