Algeria

From the end of 2007 onwards, measures against the church in Algeria and pressure on the Christians began to increase significantly due to the enforcement of Ordinance 06-03, a law prohibiting efforts to convert Muslims to another religion and giving the government the right to regulate every aspect of Christian practice. The government closed 26 churches and at least 10 Christians were arrested and questioned and several of them received suspended jail sentences and fines. This crackdown against Christians, however, has eased off in the reporting period, a trend caused by the Algerian government bowing to negative international media attention, such as condemnations from the U.S. and foreign ministries from France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Spain. This pressure from outside has embarrassed the Algerian government very much.

On the other hand, the Minister for Religious Affairs compared the 'evangelists' with the Salafist terrorists: they are a danger for the country! And so it seems that the government does not plan to improve the situation of the Christians. Church leaders in Algeria feel that for the moment the situation is "sleeping" but that pressure can again breakouts at any time. They also think that the government is working on a re-enforcement of Ordinance 06-03. Perhaps the Algerian government is waiting until international pressure decreases and then it will increase pressure again.

(January 2010)

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