صحافة بلادي صحيفة إلكترونية مغاربية متجددة على مدار الساعة تعنى بشؤون المغرب الجزائر ليبيا موريتانيا تونس
My press – Algeria
PreparingAlgeriaTo receive Pope Leo However, this visit comes in a sensitive context, amid international human rights reports talking about increasing restrictions on Christians, especially Protestants.
According to cross-sectional data issued by international organizations, Algeria has witnessed in recent years an almost complete closure of Protestant churches, as only a limited number remains out of dozens of churches that were active years ago. These reports indicate that many religious rituals are currently being held in private homes, to avoid legal prosecutions associated with organizing unauthorized gatherings.
The same sources indicate that the Kabylie region is one of the most affected areas, as some Christian groups face judicial prosecution on charges related to practicing worship without a license or “proselytizing,” in light of the application of controversial legal texts, including Decree 06-03 and Article 144 ofCriminal law.
In a recent report, local religious bodies warned of a “sharp decline” in Protestant places of worship, speaking of the use of legal requirements of a security nature in files related to peaceful religious practice.
Reports issued by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom also stated that a number of Christians in Algeria face prosecution or prison sentences because of their beliefs, while the US State Department indicated what it described as a “pattern of restrictions” that includes closing churches and imposing restrictions on the import of religious books.
The measures were not limited to Protestant churches, as they also affected Catholic institutions, including the closure of the “Caritas Algeria” organization in 2022 on the grounds of not being licensed.
The “Open Doors” organization classifies Algeria among the countries where Christian minorities face major challenges, noting that dozens of cases related to freedom of belief have been registered in recent years.
The Pope’s visit comes in this context, which places the Algerian authorities under increasing international scrutiny regarding the extent of respect for the freedom to exerciseReligious ritualsEspecially in light of the continuing human rights criticism.
Source:“My press”
