Only 10 churches are still open in the north African nation of Algeria where Islam is the state religion and effectively the only faith permitted in the country.
Local believers told Asian Access also known as A3 that the government is closing more churches and targeting Christian leaders.
Four pastors face being sentenced to prison. One leader was arrested for holding a church service in his home and two others were detained for producing Christian media content.
A believer using the name ‘Yemathen’ told Mission Network News: “We don’t know what’s going to happen. Algeria doesn’t have democracy or freedom, so they can charge them with anything.”
He said religious freedom conditions have rapidly declined since 2020 when a constitutional amendment declared Islam as the national religion.
Last year, the United States placed Algeria on its Special Watch List for international religious freedom.
‘Yemathen’ explained: “Algeria has two facets. Outside, it shows that it’s open to any religion and freedom for people to worship; yet, in reality, Algeria has never been open to other peoples of faith.”
Mass protests in 2019 sparked hope for change, leading to a new government formation.
However, the government has not changed its threats on churches according to ‘Yemathen’.
“We thought the government was going to help, but they were just checking on Christians — where they are, and where they may be – to not allow them to evangelise and expand the Gospel,” he lamented.