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Officials sealing a church door.
One of the many church closures in Algeria.
Photo: Morning Star News

Over the past few years, numerous reports have surfaced from Algeria describing the forcible closure of church buildings and the detainment of various Christian leaders. In one instance, Pastor Salah Chalah and three other believers were charged in December 2021 with "practising non-Muslim rites without permission." To learn more about this incident, and/or to review previously published news reports, go to our country report.

According to the most recent report, four pastors are presently facing trial. The accusations against these Christian leaders include holding a church service in a home and producing Christian media content. As another church was forced to close in January, there are now only ten churches remaining open throughout the entire country of more than 40 million people. The situation remains difficult for followers of Jesus in this nation. "We don't know what's going to happen," states one of them. "Algeria doesn't have democracy or freedom, so they can charge [Christians] with anything."

Continue to pray for Christians in Algeria who are facing uncertainty and ongoing threats. May they be given the strength to respond to situations of persecution with unwavering faith, courage and perseverance. Please also remember those who are being brought before the courts because of their Christian beliefs, asking the Lord to work in the hearts and minds of the judges so they will be encouraged to bring about equitable rulings in each case. Additionally, in the words of a local believer, "Pray that this persecution may lead into a greater expansion [of the church], and that the Gospel may spread even to different nations across North Africa."

Current Ministry Project

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada is equipping persecuted Christians in Algeria through the support of a seminary that provides contextually relevant Biblical and theological training.

Project Fund: Equipping the Saints

Country Information

Designation
Persecuted

Population
43,576,691 (July 2021 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Aran-Berber (99), European (<1)

Religions (%)
Muslim (99), Other, Christian and Jewish (<1)

Leader
Abdelmadjid Tebboune (Dec. 2019)

Government type
Presidential republic

Legal system
mix of French civil law and Islamic law

Source: CIA World Factbook

Pray for Algeria

Pray that God will use the current restrictions to draw many more Algerians into a relationship with Christ. Pray for conversions to Jesus among the country’s powerful Islamist leaders.

Pray Algerian believers will respond to pressure with faith and perseverance.

Pray for the nation's young people, who make up a large percentage of the population in general, as well as the majority of Christians. May they not be frustrated or disillusioned but rather strengthened and encouraged in Christ Jesus.

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