Posted on 06/05/2008 1:56:07 PM PDT by NYer
.- Four Algerian citizens who converted to Christianity have been condemned to prison and heavy fines, while two others were set free after renouncing their conversion. According to the AFP, the defense lawyer said the four were charged with “illegally practicing a non-Muslim faith.”
Attorney Khelloudja Khalfoun said one of the converts was sentenced to six months in prison and fined $3,087, while the other three were sentenced to two months in prison and fined $1,544 each.
The four converts, who were condemned by a correctional court in Tiaret, refused to deny their faith, in contrast with the two others who were freed. Kheloudja told AFP that he would appeal the verdict, since only the ones who admitted they had converted were found guilty. “They were judged by the facts themselves, and therefore all should be guilty or all should be freed,” he said.
The group of six converts was sentenced after being arrested for participating in an “illegal” service. According to a law passed in February of 2006 on religious worship in Algeria, places of worship must be designated as such by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The court that handed down the verdict was the same court that tried Habiba Kouider, who was arrested on April 1 for carrying a Bible and "practicing a non-Muslim religion without a license." International media attention caused the judge to try to relieve some of the pressure by delaying her case and asking for an investigation.
Another correctional court in the city of Tissemsilt will issue a verdict against two other converts to Christianity on June 18, who were arrested on November 20, 2007 and condemned to two years in prison and fines of $7,718. The appealed the verdict and are awaiting the results of the appeal.
And “Christians” in the US complain if the preacher goes 5 minutes past noon...
How about the liberals who complain about the threat they face from “Fundamentalist Christians?” Gimme a break! They don’t know how very lucky they are to be living a country that guarantees freedom of religion.
we must pray for these fellows and all the opressed Christians around the world. We have it pretty good here in the USA for the most part.
I can only hope those who renounced will later repent; trading a prison sentence on earth for an eternity in heaven is worth everything.
And, to echo what is said above, we are truly blessed, BLESSED to live in this land and be a Christian. I feel ashamed that I forget that fact so often.
And this is not an infringement of human rights that the UN should say something about because...?
Can you convert to atheism in Muslim countries?
Religion of Peace alert
I recall that old refrain, “Islam is a religion of peace”....
NOT NOT NOT
Or they have to stand too much.
That is still true for now but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that those days are numbered. As christians, we must do everything in our power to prevent the government from leading us down the same path as Canada.
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