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In a recent conversation between a VOMC ministry worker and Pastor Salah Chalah, an Algerian pastor who leads the country's largest Protestant church, it was reported that his trial hearing was further delayed until February 6th due to a labour strike. Pastor Salah was initially scheduled to appear in court on January 16th to face various charges, including "practising non-Muslim rites without permission" and organizing an assembly. See this page for a previous report on this case.

Pastor Salah Chalah is the senior pastor of the largest Protestant church in Algeria, where governmental restrictions in opposition to Christianity have escalated to an alarming degree. As a result, he was recently summoned to appear in court, along with three other Christians, and is now facing multiple charges. The court hearing was scheduled to take place on December 5th (read more). However, on January 10th, new details emerged indicating that the hearing has been postponed until January 16th.

In July of this year, an Algerian Christian referred to as "Ahmed Beghal" (name changed due to security concerns) was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 100,000 dinars ($920 CAD) for "shaking the faith of a Muslim," along with printing Christian literature and distributing Bibles. Ahmed denied all charges against him and appealed his sentence.

Pastor Salah Chalah is the senior pastor of the largest Protestant church in Algeria, as well as the president of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA). He and three other believers have been summoned to appear in court on December 5th. Pastor Salah faces multiple charges, including "practising non-Muslim rites without permission" and organizing an assembly. Penalties can range from heavy fines to up to five years' imprisonment. The other three Christians have received similar charges, with one of them also facing charges for allegedly taking photographs of people without their permission.

In addition to pastoring the Oran City Church in Algeria, Rachid Seighir owned and operated a book and stationery shop, where Nouh Hamimi worked as a salesman. On February 27th, both men were convicted of "shaking the faith" of Muslims through the literature that was sold at their bookstore. In June, the initial two-year sentences given to the accused men were reduced to one-year suspended sentences. These sentences were in addition to the separate fines imposed by the court. (See this report for more details.)

On July 7th, three more church buildings were sealed by Algerian authorities. These recent closures are part of the government's campaign, which was launched in 2017, to shut down Christian places of worship. This latest incident brings the total number of sealed churches to 16. For details on the previous closures, go to the country report.

"Ahmed" (not his real name due to security concerns) knows well the cost of following Christ. When the Algerian man became a Christian in April 2013, his wife began seeing positive changes in his life. As a result, three months later, she also professed her faith in Christ.

On February 27th, Pastor Rachid Seighir was convicted of "shaking the faith" of Muslims through the availability of materials in his church's bookstore in Oran, Algeria. He, along with his bookstore sales representative, Nouh Hamimi, were sentenced to two years in prison. For more on this case, see this report.

The men appealed the decision, and a ruling was expected on May 30th. After a week's delay, the judgement was reduced on June 6th to a one-year suspended sentence, along with a fine of $1,800.00 CAD each. The men intend to appeal their initial conviction.

Government-Mandated Church Closures

On February 27th, Pastor Rachid Seighir and Nouh Hamimi were sentenced to two years in an Algerian prison for allegedly "shaking the faith" of Muslims through the availability of Christian literature in their church-operated bookstore. Although the appeal of their sentence was heard on May 16th (read more), it has been announced that the verdict will be handed down on May 30th.

In 2016, Slimane Bouhafs was arrested and sentenced to five years in an Algerian prison for alleged blasphemy in a Facebook post. After various appeals, the sentence was eventually reduced for the accused Christian man, resulting in his release during April 2018 (read more).