Algerian Christians request prayer for four Christians, including three from the same family, who will appear in court on 6 November in Province of Bouira, in the Kabylie region.
These Christians are accused of “inciting a Muslim to change his religion” (a criminal offence under the penal code) and “performing religious worship in an unauthorized place” (contravening the 2006 ordinance governing non-Muslim worship).
The charges follow accusations made in July 2018 by a woman (aged 40) whose husband (50) had converted to Christianity. She and members of her family filed a complaint against her Christian husband, and also against a Christian family that had tried to mitigate a conflict between the wife and husband, accusing them of “wanting to pressure her to become a Christian.” The defendants were to appear before court 9 October, but the hearing has been postponed to November.
In a separate case for which MEC has previously requested prayer, a Christian from Tizi Ouzou has been charged with “illegal importation of Christian materials.” The young man (29) was returning from a visit to a Middle Eastern country in the summer of 2016, and had with him some items, such as keyrings and scarfs, with Christian inscriptions. He had previously been tried and acquitted, but the prosecutor has now decided to appeal. A new court date has yet to be set.
Prayer Points
Algerian Christians request prayer:
a. for those facing charges to know the presence of Jesus and the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit as they deal with the legal system
b. that they would be acquitted of all charges
c. that Christians in Algeria will know the Lord’s peace, wisdom and guidance in the face of ongoing pressures
d. that those responsible for the intimidation of Christians would know the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness and new life offered by Jesus
e. for just laws and greater societal tolerance in Algeria toward Christians
