FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Six More Algerian Christians Face Prison for
Practicing Non-Muslim Worship Without Authorization

-After Years of Religious Tolerance, Algeria Takes A Dark Turn-

You are free to disseminate the following news. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address www.www.persecution.org. Contact Darara Gubo, Regional Manager for Africa, 1-800-ICC (422)-5441, darara@www.persecution.org

(May 28, 2008) The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.www.persecution.org has learned that six Christians could be sentenced to two years in prison for meeting in a friend’s home and allegedly distributing Christian materials to Muslims.

The six Christians are Rachid, Djallil, Sami, Abdelkader, Mohamed and Chabane. They have been accused of “distribution of religious material to convert Muslims” and “practice without authorization of non-Muslim worship.” The public prosecutor asked the court in town of Tiaret, Algeria to sentence each of the six Christians to two years in prison and a fine of 500,000 Algerian dinars ($8,000). The prosecutor alleged that the six Christians were gathered to worship at the house of Rachid, who is one of the defendants.

According to a report by Algerian daily newspaper, El-Watan, Djallil, another defendant, said that they were not carrying any Christian materials and therefore, they should not be accused of distributing them. The newspaper quoted the defense lawyer for the Christians as saying that the six Christians are a “band of friends and none of them have taken into their possession or are in the process of distributing documents that undermine the faith of a Muslim, and that the apartment was used by Rachid not as a place of worship, but as a place of reunion for the group of friends.”

After hearing the arguments from the public prosecutor and the defendants, the court has set the date for its decision as Tuesday, June 3, 2008.

Update on Habiba’s Case

In another development, the court considering the case of Habiba Qawider, who was charged with illegally practicing her Christianity by carrying Christian literature on a public bus, decided yesterday that the case required “supplementary investigation.” ICC reported on the initial hearing on May 23, 2008, in a press release. In that release we mentioned that the public prosecutor asked for a three year prison term for Habiba, and that the court would make its decision on May 27.

The prosecutor has ten days to appeal the decision of the court, according to El-Watan.

Habiba’s defense lawyer criticized the court’s decision by saying that the court is just trying to buy time until the media shifts its attention elsewhere. Habiba’s case has drawn widespread critism both from the local and international media. According to some commentators, the judge was forced to order further investigation due to the attention that the case has attracted.

ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Darara Gubo, said, “The international community should step up its pressure on the government of Algeria so that the government stops interfering with freedom of religion of its Christian minorities.”

ICC would like to thank all the Christians who are praying for their brothers and sisters in Algeria. Also please continue to call the Algerian embassies in your countries. Your prayers and calls are very important in supporting our suffering brothers and sisters in Algeria.

Algerian Embassies:

Australia: (02) 6286 7355

England: (020) 7221 7800

France: (33)-1-5393-2020

Germany: (49) 30 437370

USA: (202) 265-2800

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ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.