Algeria

The constiution declares Islam to be the state religion. A restrictive religion law introduced in March 2006 requires organised religious groups to register, prohibits evangelism and gives the government the right to regulate aspects of Christian practice, including the importation of Christian materials. The law prohibits informal Christian services in private homes or in outdoor settings. Muslim converts practice their new faith in secret, because of safety concerns and potential legal and social problems. Although Christians are closely surveyed by security services and sometimes checked by the police, there is no genuine fear of persecution from the government. Most of the harassment Christians face is on-to-one intimidation or domestic violence.

Examples of Persecution:

• In May 2011, the governor of Beijaia stated that all churches in the province were illegal because they were unregistered.
• A judge sentenced a Christian convert to five years in prison for giving a CD about Christianity to a neighbour, who then claimed he had insulted Muhammed
• Members of a church in the Kabylie region gathered for worship, to find their new building damaged from vandalisim and a fire the previous weekend.

Open Doors is: delivering Bibles, children's materials and audiovisual resources for churches, supporting discipleship and leadership training, and involved in advocacy.

Please Pray:

• For God to provide ways for Christian resources to be allowed more easily into Algeria
• For the believers who are in prison because of false accusations