AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- In February 2006 Algerian President Bouteflika signed the controversial 'Presidential Order Concerning Religion' which severely restricts Christian worship and practice. The Order was then passed by the upper and lower houses of parliament without debate. However for two years it sat on the books without being implemented. Then in early 2008 the government finally caved in to pressure from intolerant Islamic groups and, as reported in RLP 466 (20 Feb 2008), a crackdown began.

On 29 March 2008, police in Tiaret city, 240km (150 miles) south-west of Algiers, found Bibles in the handbag of an Algerian Christian woman named Habiba Kouider (35). She was subsequently charged with 'practising non-Muslim religious rites without a licence'. The case has attracted considerable local and international attention and condemnation. Writing on 27 May -- the day the verdict was due to be delivered -- Algerian dissident journalist Arezki Ait Larbi called on the government to stop the 'witchcraft trials' against Christians. He mocked the government's ridiculous 'conspiracy theories' and argued the case for 'fundamental liberties over fascist tendencies'. Regarding Habiba Kouider's trial he said: 'Whatever the verdict, Habiba is already a symbol of courage and liberty.' The ruling has been postponed.

On 1 June police in Tiaret harangued Habiba in the street for two hours, subjecting her to a humiliating public body search and interrogation. Then on 3 June, the Tiaret court handed down rulings regarding four Christians on trial for the crime of seeking to convert Muslims to Christianity: Rachid Muhammad Essaghir received a six-month suspended sentence and a 200,000-dinar (US$3,300) fine, whilst Chabane Beikel, Abdelhak Rebeih and Djillali Saibi were each given two-month suspended sentences and 100,000-dinar (US$1,650) fines. Another case against Rachid Muhammad Essaghir (37) started on 18 June in Tissemsilt, 175km (110 miles) south-west of Algiers. He and an associate, Djallal, had been charged with 'distributing documents to shake the faith of Muslims' after Bibles were found in their car in June 2007.

On 7 June, Algeria's Minister of Religious Affairs, Mr Ghlamalah Bouabdellah, attempted to justify the repression by accusing Christian groups of collaborating with foreign elements; destabilising the country by sowing divergences between people; and seeking the political objective of opposing the ruling regime. He equated them with criminals and terrorists and promised to fight them 'the same way we fight terrorism'. Just days earlier, the head of the government-appointed Higher Islamic Council, Abu Amrane Chikh, had made the same accusations. According to Chikh, 'This is a new form of colonisation that is hidden behind freedom of worship.'

But multitudes of Algerians are sick of Algeria's intolerant Islamists and its non-transparent government constantly covering up human rights abuses and cutting deals with militants. Algeria has a presidential election scheduled for April 2009, so this is a
strategic time for debates about Islam, religious liberty and the future of Algeria. Please pray.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR GOD TO:

• give Habiba Kouider, Rachid Muhammad Essaghir, Chabane Beikel, Abdelhak Rebeih, Djillali Saibi and Djallal -- as well as all other Algerian believers at risk of persecution -- the grace, faith, strength and courage required to run with endurance the race that is set before them. May they always be looking to Jesus, the 'founder and protector' of their faith. (Hebrews 12:1,2 ESV)
  
  
• raise up more and more courageous voices for liberty within Algeria, to stimulate Algerians to have not only a hunger but a hope for a more open, honest, progressive and equitable future.
  
  
• continue to bless the Algerian Church with growth in numbers as well as in grace, love, knowledge and wisdom; may God continue to bless and provide for all the various Arabic language ministries that are so wonderfully impacting this hungry nation.

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PERSECUTION SPURS DEBATE IN ALGERIA

The Algerian government has been appeasing Islamists since early 2008 by implementing its 2006 'Presidential Order Concerning Religion' and repressing Christian worship and practice. Habiba Kouider (35) was charged with 'practising non-Muslim religious rites without a licence' after police found Bibles in her handbag on 29 March. Her case is so controversial that on 27 May the court postponed its verdict. On 1 June police harangued Habiba in the street for two hours. Then on 3 June, four Algerian Christians got suspended jail sentences and fines for 'attempting to shake the faith of Muslims'. The government asserts that religious liberty is part of a foreign conspiracy to colonise Algeria. But many Algerians are not buying that and voices for liberty and justice are being raised in Algeria. Please pray for Algeria and its Church in this time of trial and debate.

Elizabeth Kendal is the Principal Researcher and Writer for the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) http://www.worldevangelicals.org/. This article was initially written for the WEA RLP(Religious Liberty Prayer) mailing list.