Officials in Algeria have made it increasingly difficult for missionaries to evangelise or challenge the Islamic faith in any capacity.
With Algeria’s government-issued ordinances and restrictions on non-Muslim religious organisations, any attempt to attract Muslim to Christ is met with animosity, hefty fines, and the very real possibility of jail time.
Today, Algeria’s population is estimated to be about 99% Sunni Muslim. The nation has strict laws against blasphemy, proselytisation (attempting to convert someone from one religion to another), and laws governing worship that are the main components in making ministry work in Algeria extremely difficult.
Algeria’s blasphemy laws criminalise any individual who offends the Prophet or disparages the precepts of Islam, whether it be through writing, artwork, speaking, or any other medium.
According to the United States Commission on International Freedom (USCIRF), a person found guilty of blasphemy can be sentenced to between three and five years in prison, and required to pay a fine between $50,000 and $100,000 Algerian dinars (approximately $520-$1,000)
The anti-proselytisation laws include any act that ‘entices’ a Muslim to convert to another religion. Lastly, the laws governing worship keep Christians confined to approved worship spaces, while purposely making these places of worship difficult to attend regularly.
Algeria’s religious laws are in place to discourage the practise of faith systems outside of the Sunni Muslim sect. As a result, mission work in the country has become increasingly dangerous and can come at a high price.
Source: International Christian Concern
Please Pray
Pray that church leaders will be strong and wise while enduring hardship.
Pray for opportunities to distribute Bibles throughout Algeria, especially in the south.
Pray for the many who hear the gospel through social media evangelism.