Algiers Catholic Archbishop Accuses, Religious Ministry Responds

Archbishop of Algiers, Ghaleb Abdalla Bader, criticized the law on the practice of non Muslim rituals, saying Christians in Algeria are still unable to practice evangelization, as the said law stipulates prison sentence or a 2000 Euros fine.

The Catholic Archbishop told Italia based Zenith news agency that the law of 2006 prohibits Christians from organizing religious activities outside churches, adding that even Anglicans and Protestants are not authorized to have their own churches.

He further indicated that the said law does not tolerate evangelical operations in the North Africa nation, and anybody breaching the law would be imprisoned or fined to 2000 Euros.

However, the Archbishop of Algiers indicated that the Catholic Church in Algeria meets with the Minister of Religious Affairs once a month, at least, saying “We’ve always had good relations with the Ministry; yet, the problem with us is still the law on the practice of non Muslim rituals of 2006.”

In response to such statements, Spokesman for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Adda Fellahi, told Echorouk reporter that Archbishop Ghaleb Bader should have evoked the preoccupations of Christians in Algeria within the national committee for non Muslim rites, which includes representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and some non Muslim associations. 

Mr Fellahi further mentioned that “Algeria has always respected other countries’ laws, including those related to the organization of religious rites, yet, when it comes to our laws, others seem respect them not!”

As for accusations of archbishops of North Africa that Algeria deprives Christian missions from visiting the country, by rejecting their visa applications, Mr Fellahi said “the Ministry has always insisted that no visa would be granted to such missions as long as they do not specify exactly their agenda during their stay in Algeria.”