4 Protestant Christian converts facing 1 year jail for opening a place of worship without permission in Algeria

 The four Christian converts, aged between 35 and 45, are charged in the town of Larbaa Nath Irathen, 150 km east of the capital Algiers, with violating a 2006 law that requires official approval for a place of worship and preacher. One of them is also charged with accommodating a French pastor without approval.


Source: AFP


Comment: Yet another building restriction case similar to the case of the orphanage handed back by the Turkish government to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople after a ruling by the EU Human Rights court. Keep in mind the Pact of Umar from the 7th century.

We shall not build, in our cities or in their neighborhood, new monasteries, Churches, convents, or monks' cells, nor shall we repair, by day or by night, such of them as fall in ruins or are situated in the quarters of the Muslims.

On the other hand, it is not an entirely bad idea to control houses of worship and preachers if there was a problem of terrorism or extremism within that religion.


Some previous related or similar stories:

Turkey hands back orphanage in Constantinople to Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople after being ordered by European Court of Human Rights

Christians evicted from Church in Sudanese capital by Police in Muslim's attempt to seize land

2 Algerian Christain converts acquitted of eating during Ramadan; 2 more cases still pending

Al-Qaeda in North Africa (AQIM), shopping for weapons with kidnap ransom money

Algeria to arm civilians to fight terrorism