ICC Note: Despite recent constitutional revisions in Algeria, churches are still facing harassment from the authorities. On April 24^th, a Church in Maatkas was ordered to cease all religious gathering based on a breached 2006 regulatory law. The new constitution passed in February 2016, however, has established freedom of religious worship in compliance with the law. The case of the Church in Maatkas just shows the continued struggle for religious equality in a country so bound by its restrictive past.

04/29/16 Algeria (World Watch Monitor): Churches in Algeria are facing intimidation and harassment, despite constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of worship in the country.

On Sunday 24 April, 2016, a church in Mâatkas, in the north-eastern province of Kabylie, was ordered to cease all religious activities on the grounds that it was in breach of a 2006 law which regulates non-Muslim worship.

The authorities have threatened to commence legal proceedings against the church if Christian worship continues in the building currently being used by the church.

The notice provides no further detail about the alleged infringement, nor any timeframe within which steps should be taken to ensure compliance with the law.

The church in Mâatkas is affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria (known as EPA, its French acronym), which is legally registered. In response to the notice, the president of the EPA, Rev. Mahmoud Haddad, said it was a violation of the freedom of worship enshrined in the Constitution.

“The new Constitution, passed in February 2016, has duly established freedom of religious worship. Its Article 36 clearly states that freedom of religious worship is guaranteed in compliance with the law,” he said. “The house where church conducts its worship was rented on behalf of the EPA, which has an official agreement from the Ministry of the Interior.

“The majority of churches affiliated to the EPA are in the same situation. They rent rooms or houses to celebrate their worship. Are authorities going to send such notifications to all these churches?”

…