Christian associations in Algeria under close scrutiny

Various Christian associations affiliated to the protestant church in Algeria were ordered by security services to immediately halt their activities, till the meeting of the national council for of cult practices watch. The decision doesn’t’ concern the protestant church since it complies with the Algerian regulations.Protestant websites have reported that two Christian associations located in Kabylia region received police reports in which they were asked to stop all their activities pending the upcoming meeting of the council chaired by the Algerian minister for religious affairs.

According to the protestants, 10 associations are concerned by these preventive measures, some were ordered to close down whereas others are still under judicial inquires.

To recall, the Algerian authorities decided to put these Christian associations under scrutiny following a large campaign of evangelization secretly waged by non- accredited organizations affiliated to the Evangelist Church in Algeria.

For his part, the head of the Algerian Protestant Church , father Mustapha Karim declared that these associations obey to the mentioned church and were all accredited by the Algerian authorities since 1974. He said that these associations were operating in accordance with the Algerian law.

But sources from the ministry of religious affairs revealed that most of these associations were acting illegally, using Christian convert houses to practice their religion.