05/09/2019 Algeria (International Christian Concern) – According to the Barnabas Fund, a church in the Algerian city of Tizi Ouzou is being threatened with demolition by security officials although the court has granted approval to its existence. The church has been continuously harassed by the authorities since 2017.
In a separate incident just north of Tizi Ouzou, charges were filed against pastor for building an illegal wall around his church. In just one week, another Christian from the town of Ighram is scheduled to appear in court for allowing his church to gather without official authorization.
Algeria is currently undergoing a political crisis that is expected to continue through at least July. The country’s ailing and rarely seen President Bouteflika was forced to resign after protests rocked the country when he announced his intention to seek a fifth term. The country is currently in a caretaker government, with upcoming elections scheduled on July 4th.
In some instances, the stretched political system has allowed opportunities for some Christians to win court battles, as members of the judiciary have been on strike. In other instances, such as the one previously described, it creates an opportunity for security forces to operate outside the boundaries set forth by the courts.
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