Prison Sentence Reduced Of Algeria Church Leader
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
ALGIERS (Worthy News) – A senior church leader in Algeria has seen his original prison sentence for holding an “unauthorized” church service reduced on appeal, well-informed Christians told Worthy News Wednesday.
Pastor Youssef Ourahmane, Vice President of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA), had his original sentence of two years’ imprisonment reduced to one year, confirmed Barnabas Aid, an advocacy group closely following the case.
However, the accompanying fine of roughly $725 remained the same, Barnabas Aid added. Yet the ruling made during his appeal hearing on November 19 isn’t final as he launched a second appeal to a higher provincial court, Worthy News learned.
On Wednesday, Pastor Ourahmane was still awaiting a date for a further hearing. Barnabas Aid said it was thankful the sentence had been reduced but urged his supporters to “pray for the success of this second appeal, that the sentence will be overturned, and he will be acquitted.”
His case highlighted broader concerns among religious rights groups about what they view as Islamic oppression under Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, impacting the tiny Christian minority.
Christian advocacy group Open Doors said at least 139,000 Christians live in a nation where believers “many obstacles” to expressing their faith.
CHURCHES CLOSED
As in the case of the pastor, “Laws that regulate non-Muslim worship are also used to quell the influence of Christianity,” Open Doors explained. “This includes the prohibition of anything that would ‘shake the faith of a Muslim’ or could be used as a ‘means of seduction intending to convert a Muslim to another religion.’ These laws are sufficiently vague to target and harass believers.”
Well-informed Open Doors said, “16 previously closed church buildings remained sealed, while other churches were ordered to close during the past year. Several other churches have had to cease their activities.”
It noted that it is part of a broader crackdown as “Most Algerian Christians are converts from Islam. They can face discrimination, harassment, and pressure to follow Islamic customs from family members and the wider community.”
The group said that recently, “Christians have increasingly experienced restrictions and pressure from state officials to renounce their faith; many of these officials come under the influence of radical Islamic teachers.”
Adding to difficulties are political and social difficulties in the Islamic country of 45 million people: President Tebboune last month fired the country’s prime minister and replaced him with the head of his cabinet as Algeria struggles with inflation and next year’s national elections approach.
Algeria ranks 19th on the Open Doors annual World Watch List of 50 countries where it says Christians face the most persecution.
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