Four Christians, including three from the same family, who were due to appear in court in Algeria on 6th November have had their case postponed until 27th November.

According to Middle East Concern, the four are accused of “inciting a Muslim to change his religion,” an offence which is punishable with a prison term of two to five years and a fine of 500,000 to 1 million Algerian Dinars ( approx. £3,300 to £6,600).

The charges in the province of Bouira, in the Kabylie region follow accusations made in July this year by a 40-year-old woman whose husband, the main defendant, had converted to Christianity. 

She and members of her family accused her Christian husband, together with a Christian family that had attempted to mitigate in the conflict between the couple, of wanting to convert her to Christianity.

Separately, Middle East Concern also report the acquittal of a 29-year-old Christian man who had been charged with “illegal importation of Christian materials.” 

The man 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 was tried and acquitted, but in September 2018, the prosecutor decided to appeal. He appeared before a court of appeals in Algiers on 18th October and was once again acquitted of all charges.


Date published: 10/11/2018
Written by: Premier Journalist
Article source:  www.premier.org.uk

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