ICC Note: In yet another example of Algerian authorities increasing pressure on Christians, two brothers have been fined $900 each for transporting over 50 Bibles in their car. Although the brothers claimed the Bibles were for church use, the authorities claim that they were meant for evangelizing. The case originally dates back to 2015. The brothers were appealing their prison sentence and fine. On March 8, 2018, the judge overturned the jail sentence. Instead he doubled the fines and gave them a suspended sentence of 3 months each.

03/18/2018 Algeria (World Watch Monitor) –  The Algerian government has once again been criticised for alleged discrimination against the country’s Christian minority, this time by handing large fines to two brothers for carrying over 50 Bibles in their car.

Prosecutors claimed the Bibles were to be used for proselytism, though the brothers said they were for church use only.

The Protestant Church of Algeria (known by its French acronym, EPA) issued a statement to the press denouncing the “intimidation” of Nouredine and Belabbes Khalil. This follows the recent closure of several of the denomination’s churches.

The EPA is a federation of 45 Protestant churches, mostly in Algeria’s northern coastal region, officially recognised by the government in 1974.

The two men were each fined 100,000 dinar (US$900) on 8 March by a court in Tiaret, about 300 kilometres southwest of the capital, Algiers.

The brothers’ case goes back to March 2015, when their car was pulled over by the police. They were arrested for carrying 56 Bibles, and interrogated about where the books came from and what they were going to do with them.

They said the Bibles were for their church community, which Nouredine leads, so the police released them and returned the books. However, the case was later referred to a prosecutor and the legal action against them commenced.

…

For interviews with Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org.