Trying times: Christians face a wave of persecution in Africa's second-largest country

World Magazine ^ | July 2008 | Jill Nelson

[americanophile]

After being yanked from a bus just outside of her hometown in Algeria, 35-year-old Habiba Kouider was searched and questioned about her faith. When police found several Bibles and books about Christianity, they detained the Christian convert for 24 hours and brought her before a state prosecutor. The official gave her two options: Convert back to Islam or face charges.

Kouider now faces three years in prison for "practicing non-Muslim religious rites without a license." She is one among dozens of believers arrested this year on religious grounds. Many Christians fear ominous times are ahead for Christians in Algeria, a signatory of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and—at over three times the size of Texas—Africa's second-largest country.

This recent wave of persecution stems from a February 2006 law, Ordinance 06-03, that restricts worship by non-Muslims and creates steep penalties for proselytizing. Coupled with the arrests are closures of more than half of the country's 50 Protestant churches—all ordered within the past six months. "This is the most pressure Christians have faced in Algeria," said Farid Bouchama, an Algerian televangelist living in France. "Before it was discrimination from families or jobs, but this is the first organized pressure from the state."

Many Algerians are trying to understand why a law that was established more than two years ago was not implemented until recently. Some analysts attribute the sweeping changes to political currents: Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika needs the support of Islamists if he's going to change the constitution and run for a third term in 2009.

Christian leaders say the crackdown is intended to squelch a Christian movement that continues to grow through indigenous church plants and Christian satellite broadcasts throughout the region. Conservative estimates place the number of Algerian believers at close to

[americanophile]

More from the religion of peace...

[max americana]

>>The official gave her two options: Convert back to Islam or face charges.<<

Yup, sounds “peaceful” to me.

[Hugin]

Bring back the Crusades.

[Fiji Hill]

What is today Algeria was once a hotbed of Christianity. It was the home of Augustine of Hippo, who lived from AD 354 to 430.

[rawhide]

I read where it has been reported that there is a revival taking place among the Algerian Berbers, with many, many are muslims converting to Christianity. Prayer is needed for them.

[Gamecock]

Coupled with the arrests are closures of more than half of the country's 50 Protestant churches—all ordered within the past six months.

We are promised that Christ's Church will be persecuted, that we believers will be reviled. This is just one more bit of evidence of the fulfillment of God's word.

Sola Deo Gloria!

[LukeL]

It is strange how no other faith faces so much hatred and persecution, even from people who claim to be Christians.

[YOUGOTIT]

They also will face the same in the EU and Canada as Sharia Law is enforced and placed upon the people.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1031611/Sharia-law-SHOULD-used-Britain-says-UKs-judge.html

[Marysecretary]

Not hard to see now, is it? The End Times are here...