Habiba Kouider, an Algerian Christian, could soon be sentenced to three years in prison for carrying Bibles and other Christian books while traveling on a public bus from Tiaret to Oran, Algeria, according to a May 23 report from Compass Direct. Habiba was first detained by police on March 29. The police freed her after detaining her for 24 hours, but ordered her to appear in court in the city of Tiaret on May 7. The court, however, delayed her case until May 20. During the initial hearing, the public prosecutor accused her of practicing "non-Muslim worship without authorization" and demanded that the court sentence her to three years in prison. In the same hearing, the prosecutor also pressured Habiba to renounce Christ, promising "to drop the case if she reinstated Islam."

Pray for Habiba to remain strong in her faith in Christ regardless of the cost. Ask God to embolden Algerian Christians to continue sharing Christ's love and grace despite opposition from the authorities.

For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Algeria, read Algeria's Country Report.