Sentence Reduced for Convicted Christians in Algeria

Group guilty under draconian law against ‘unauthorized worship.’

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – A group of Christians arrested on Dec. 12 received a reduction in their sentence for “unauthorized worship” last week, one of those convicted said. The 11 Christians, including the owner of the site rented for the occasion, had received a suspended sentence of six months in prison and a 200,000 […]

Heavy Fine Upheld on Appeal by Christian in Algeria

Six-month prison sentence for ‘unauthorized donations’ suspended.

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – A Christian convert from Islam on Dec. 1 received a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 100,000 Algerian dinars (US$716) from an appeals court on a conviction of “accepting donations without a license,” he said. Ahmed Beghal (name changed for security reasons) had been sentenced in July to […]

Christian in Algeria Sentenced to Prison, Heavy Fine

Convert denies charges related to “shaking faith of a Muslim.”

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – A judge in Algeria on Thursday (July 8) sentenced a Christian to six months in prison and fine of 100,000 dinars (US$740) for allegedly accepting unauthorized donations to spread Christianity, the convert from Islam said. Ahmed Beghal (name changed for security reasons) received the sentence at a court hearing in […]

Pastor in Algeria Receives Suspended Sentence and Fine

His church building one of three a court orders sealed.

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – Less than a week after a a court in Algeria ordered pastor Rachid Seighir’s church to close, a judge in handed him a one-year suspended sentence and a fine for “shaking the faith” of Muslims with Christian literature at his bookstore, sources said. Pastor Seighir’s Oratoire Church building in the […]

Released from Prison, Algerian Christian Persecuted in Tunisia

Slimane Bouhafs seeks refuge in third country.

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – After Slimane Bouhafs was released from prison in 2018, having served nearly two years for violating Algeria’s blasphemy laws, further persecution drove him to Tunisia. Threats on his life continue there, and he is stuck in legal limbo – missing his daughter’s wedding on Friday (April 2). “My daughter who […]

Christian’s Five-Year Prison Sentence for Facebook Post Upheld in Algeria

Attorney sees anti-Christian bias in verdict.

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – A judge in Oran, Algeria on Monday (March 22) upheld a five-year prison sentence for a Christian convicted of reposting a cartoon of Islam’s prophet on his Facebook account three years ago, sources said. Farid Khemisti, attorney for Hamid (surname withheld for security reasons), said the 43-year-old father of four young […]

Two Christians Sentenced to Prison and Heavy Fine in Algeria

Pastor, bookseller convicted for Christian literature at their store.

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – A court in Algeria has convicted and sentenced in absentia a pastor and another Christian to two years in prison and a heavy fine, accusing them of “shaking the faith” of Muslims with Christian literature at their bookstore, sources said. Pastor Rachid Seighir and Nouh Hamimi learned by a written […]

Christian in Algeria Imprisoned for Cartoon on Facebook

Father of four sentenced to five years in prison.

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – A Christian who had received and reposted a cartoon of the prophet of Islam on his Facebook account three years ago was not too concerned when gendarmerie showed up at his door on Jan. 20. By the next day, the 43-year-old father of four young children had been sentenced to […]

Order Issued to Close Church Building in Oran, Algeria, Christian Leaders Say

Former provincial governor maintained pressure to seal building.

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – An order to close a church building in the city of Oran, Algeria was issued last fall but was not conveyed to the pastor until last weekend, sources said. Pastor Rachid Seighir did not receive the Nov. 10, 2019 closure order until Saturday (Jan. 11), he said. “This official […]

‘Sad Day’ in Algeria as Officials Seal Buildings of Country’s Largest Churches

Police use force to eject Christians resisting in protest.

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – Authorities in Algeria on Wednesday (Oct. 16) closed the Tafath (Light) church building in Tizi-Ouzou, a day after sealing shut the country’s largest church despite resistance, sources said. A third church in northern Algeria, Source of Light church in Makouda, was also closed on Tuesday (Oct. 15). Pastor Mustapha […]