ALGERIA (Wikipedia) – World Watch List #29 (Open Doors UK)

Population: 36.5 million (25,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

Algeria is increasingly the scene of terror attacks as a result of growing Islamism in the region. The government is pressurised by al-Qaeda in the Maghreb to implement more Islamic legislation, to the detriment of the country’s Christians, most of whom are from a Muslim background. The young Algerian church faces discrimination from family and the state. Islamist groups, encouraged by the Arab Spring, are becoming more visible and monitor Christian activity. In 2012, threats against churches and Christians increased.

PLEASE PRAY:

• The government has not registered any new churches since 2008. Pray for house churches who continue to meet, some openly and some in secret
• A religious law introduced in 2006 particularly restricts Christians. Pray that this restrictive law will be abolished
• For Christian women. Imprisonment of women and pressure from religious leaders to divorce Christians is common.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS: Major protests in 2011 against Algeria’s authoritarian regime, in which five people died and over 800 were injured, did not bring about a regime change. The military government is still largely in place.

The oppression of Christians has been constant and systemic throughout all spheres of life. Newly issued legislation such as Ordinance 06-03 particularly restricts Christians. Imprisonment of women and pressure from village elders and imams to divorce Christians is common. Persecution is increasing: in 2012, the church in Ouargla was attacked and a Christian lady kidnapped and threatened. The government has not registered any new churches since February 2008 so ‘house churches’ continue to meet, some openly and some in secret. The Algerian Protestant Church (EPA) finally obtained registration in 2011, but no real freedom resulted. The future of the church will depend a great deal on the political situation.

MORE BACKGROUND:  Persecution in Algeria takes many forms: verbal and physical abuse, denigration and slander in the media from Islamist parties, forced divorce, and most recently, the loss of family inheritance under a law inspired by the Islamic Sharia. This is the case for Algerian believer named Mecheri Benslama (Open Doors USA).

Mecheri Benslama is a 55 year old Christian from Laghouat, a town in the north of Algeria. He risks losing the share of his inheritance because of his faith. In January, his Muslim brother brought a court case against him, using the Algerian family law. His brother aimed to deprive Mecheri from all family heritages. The law he used to do that is a law that was adopted in 1984. Article 138 of this law stipulates that an apostate (someone who leaves Islam) cannot inherit from a Muslim. On top of this case, his brother filed another complaint accusing Mecheri of offending the prophet of Islam and the Quran and wanting to convert members of the family, taking advantage of the absence of the Muslim brother filing the complaint.

Mecheri is part of a church that has around hundred members. His pastor Mahmoud is spiritually supporting Mecheri in this difficult time. Mahmoud tells us this isn’t the first time Mecheri received accusations: “previously he was summoned by the police on complaints of apostasy: they asked him to confess Mohammed and Allah, but he refused, telling them that he was a Christian.”

For Mahmoud, this case is yet another injustice committed against Christians in Algeria: “It is an injustice to disinherit someone because he does not share the same religious beliefs. The situation is due to lead to a family tragedy “says the pastor.