Christians Found ''Guilty'' for Seeking to Convert Muslims

 Djillali Saibi
Djillali Saibi, One of the Christians found guilty
Photo from Compass Direct

Four of the six Christians detained by police while leaving a prayer meeting in Tiaret on May 9 (click here for more details) were given suspended sentences and fined by an Algerian court on June 3 for seeking to convert Muslims to Christianity, according to a June 3 report from Compass Direct. The court gave Rachid Muhammad Essaghir a six-month suspended sentence and a 200,000-dinar fine ($3,282 CAD). He was originally charged with "distributing documents to shake the faith of Muslims." Chabane Beikel, Abdelhak Rebeih and Djillali Saibi were each given two-month suspended sentences and 100,000-dinar ($1,640 CAD) fines. The two other believers on trial, Mohamed Khene and Abdelkader Hori, were acquitted.

For more information on the increased persecution of Christians in Algeria, go to the Algeria Country Report.

 

Algeria Information

  • Current Ministry Projects

    The Voice of the Martyrs Canada is equipping persecuted Christians in Algeria with biblical and theological training through the support of a seminary that provides contextually biblical and relevant training.

    Project Funds: Underground Church, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defence

  • Country Information

    Population
    44,758,398 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Aran-Berber (99), European (<1)

    Religions (%)
    Muslim (99), Other, Christian and Jewish (<1)

    Leader
    Abdelmadjid Tebboune (Dec. 2019)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    mix of French civil law and Islamic law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Algeria

    Pray that God will use the current restrictions to draw many more Algerians into a relationship with Christ. Pray for conversions to Jesus among the country’s powerful Islamist leaders.

    Pray Algerian believers will respond to pressure with faith and perseverance.

    Pray for the nation's young people, who make up a large percentage of the population in general, as well as the majority of Christians. May they not be frustrated or disillusioned but rather strengthened and encouraged in Christ Jesus.

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Algeria News

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    Pastor Youssef Ourahmane
    Photo: Middle East Concern

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    Photo: Middle East Concern

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    Photo: Middle East Concern

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    Photo: Middle East Concern

    Pastor Youssef Ourahmane is the vice president of the Église Protestante d'Algérie (EPA), an association consisting of more than 45 Protestant churches. Along with this leadership role, he also serves as a senior pastor who oversees a number of churches and Bible schools.

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Algeria Videos

 
Algeria: The Growing Persecuted Church
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Algeria: Church Closure in Tizi-Ouzou
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